Doug Ford showed up at a hydro rally for 6 minutes

It's all about hydro Tuesday morning, with news of Hydro One board members giving themselves raises. All the leadershave criticized the move, with Doug Ford even bringing it up at a rally out front of Hydro One's annual general meeting.

Here's where we are on day seven.

Latest from the campaign

• Hydro One's part-time board members gave themselves $25Kraise
  • The board members voted to boost their compensation to $185,000 a year,putting the already embattledpower utility (and Kathleen Wynne)under even more fire.
• Liberals question NDP's commitment to high-speed rail
  • This is what Liberals hoped to make the day about, but it's been a bit derailed by the Hydro One news. Liberals claimthe NDPwill cancel environmental assessments on high speed rail, while the NDPsaid that's not true.
• Lambton-Kent-Middlesex still without Liberal candidate after nomination falls through
  • With just 23 days until election day, some ridings are still without major partycandidates. The deadline for candidates is Thursday, so parties will be scrambling to put people in place before then.

The moment

Doug Ford's 6-minute hydro rally

6 years ago

Duration 6:39

PC Leader Doug Ford hosted a brief rally in front of Hydro One's annual general meeting Tuesday.

The only stop listed on PC Leader Doug Ford's itinerary Tuesday was a rally out front of Hydro One's annual general meeting and it was a brief, weird one.

He pulledup in a black SUV right at 9:30 a.m., popping into the crowd of supportersand shaking some hands. He then spoke to reporters, attacking Hydro One, its CEO, its board members, Kathleen Wynneand notably the NDP whom he has started going after.

"The NDPare just as bad as the Liberals," he said. He also said wouldn't commit to buying back shares in Hydro One, as the NDPhave promised to do.Ford then went to leave, but walked the wrong way and ended up in an alley between two buildings.

After theconfusion, hehopped back into the car six minutes and 20 seconds after showing up.

Noted

The target has turned slightly for Ontario Proud, the mostpopular political Facebook group in the provincewith more than 359,000 likes. The group, chock full of anti-Liberal and anti-Kathleen Wynne memes, videos and articles, has started taking on Andrea Horwath and the NDP.

Here's an example:

Jeff Ballingall, the group's founder, said the approach is new and comes after hearing talk ofcoalition possibilities between the Liberals and the NDP. Horwath ruled thepossibilityout on Mondaybut Ballingallsaid some attacks will continue.

"We are pivoting a bit because the NDP are surging," he told CBC byphone. He said the prime target is still Wynne but he will be spotlighting key NDPplatform policies that the group's supporters"might find alarming."Two recentmemestargettheNDP'splan to make Ontario a sanctuary province, with one asking users to share if they think it is a "crazy policy."

Ballingall's still voting NDPthough, strategicallyin his east Toronto riding where the PCs have a slim chance of winning. He also wouldn't have a problem with the NDPand the PCs working together, should either form a minority.

Dispatch from the field

On the NDPbus, withLisa Xing

The NDP launched itssouthwestern Ontario platform today. Most of the region traditionally votes PC, especially in the rural areas. But, among mooing cows and playful barn cats, Andrea Horwath seemed to be garnering support among some rural voters whose families have, for generations, been blue.

It seems the NDP is trying to capitalize on the momentum that suggests they're second in the polls and trying to win over voters who are wary of Doug Ford and are tired of the Liberals.

Two dairy farmer sisters in Watford spoke with me about why they would be first-time NDP voters onJune 7, and the answer seemed to echo what a lot of voters in the region told me: they want change. They're skeptical of Doug Ford leading the PCs. And even though there are some strong incumbents running, they're willing to take the risk and vote for a party they've never thought of voting for before.

Riding to watch

Kitchener-Conestoga, population 100,705, profile byKate Bueckert

Mike Harris Jr., son of former premier Mike Harris, was handed the Progressive Conservative nomination in this riding after he lost his bid to become the candidate in Waterloo. He replaces former PC transportation critic Michael Harris (be sure to keep your Mike/Michael Harrises straight) who said in April he was not running again due to an eye condition, but was booted from the party two days later over sexual texts he sent an intern six years ago.

Some have criticizedFord for parachuting Harris Jr. into the riding. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Liberal candidate Joe Gowing and NDP's Kelly Dick.

Poll tracker

The NDPcontinues to gain, while all other parties fall some more (Liberals and Greens) than others (PCs). Get the full breakdown.

Where the leaders are

• Ford: Rally in front of Hydro One in Toronto (9:30 a.m.)
• Horwath:Announcement in London (9:30 a.m.), campaign event at coffee shop in Paris (1:30 p.m.), health care town hall in Kitchener (6p.m.)
• Schreiner:Meeting with Toronto Star editorial board (12 noon), campaigning in Guelph (4:30 p.m.)
• Wynne:Announcement in Waterloo (8:50 a.m.), announcement in London (2:20 p.m.), visit to Wellington Brewery in Guelph (5p.m.)

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