Questions raised after non-political city staff ordered to attend Ford announcement [Video]

An Ontario city is facing questions after its top official ordered non-political staff to work from city hall on Friday so they could provide a backdrop for Ontario Premier Doug Ford to make a campaign-style announcement days before calling an election.

On Friday, Ford was at Brampton City Hall to promise funding to tunnel the extension for an unfinished light rail project northwards from Mississauga and under Brampton’s downtown.

During the announcement, Ford confirmed long-rumoured plans that he would trigger a provincial election within days and repeatedly attacked his political opponents, asking Ontarians to vote for the Progressive Conservative Party.

In the background, Ford’s words were met with applause and shouts of encouragement from an audience of non-political city workers who Global News can reveal were ordered to turn up.

Staff were also armed with pamphlets and posters celebrating the light rail route promise, and were praising Ford by name, thanking him for the promised spending.

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