How Ontario’s party leaders defined themselves and their opponents on day 1 of campaign [Video]

As party leaders launched their election campaigns with prepared speeches Wednesday, NDP leader Marit Stiles was ready with lengthy criticisms of her opponents on the ballot, while the only politician Doug Ford mentioned outside his party was U.S. President Donald Trump. 

At three concurrent campaign launch events Wednesday morning, the leaders had a chance to define themselves, their campaigns and their opponents. 

With the Progressive Conservatives taking the top spot in many polls, Ford continued to present himself as the person best suited to, as his campaign slogan says, “protect Ontario” from the American tariff threats. While Stiles tried to convince Liberal voters the NDP should be the home for their votes, not Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie’s party.

“[Ford’s] not really running against Marit Stiles or Bonnie Crombie. He’s running against Donald Trump,” said Lydia Miljan, head of the political science department at the University of Windsor. “He’s filling the …