'Please don't interrupt me,' says Horwath as Liberal candidate crashes NDP event - Action News
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'Please don't interrupt me,' says Horwath as Liberal candidate crashes NDP event

Now with just over a week to go until election day, the leaders are continuing to campaign hard. Here's where we are on day 20.

How Doug Ford is going after the NDP's 'radical activists'

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had a surprise visitor at her press conference in Etobicoke Monday morning local Liberal candidate Shafiq Qaadri. (CBC)

The leadersfaced off for the final time Sunday night before the election. All had their key talking points:

  1. Liberal LeaderKathleenWynnesaid"sorry, not sorry" for the last five years.
  2. NDPLeader Andrea Horwathreiteratedshe is "not Bob Rae", Ontario's onlyNDPpremier.
  3. PC Leader Doug Ford admittedhe doesn't trust politicians.

Nowwith just over a week to go until election day, the leaders are continuing to campaign hard. Horwath and Ford are on opposite parts of the province; the NDP leader is visiting Guelph and Ancasterwhile the PC leader is in Newmarket and Peterborough. Wynne is sticking to the GTA with stops in Toronto and Mississauga.

Here's where we are on day 20.

Latest from the campaign(debate edition)

Watch the Ontario leaders' debate in 90 seconds

6 years ago
Duration 1:32
This is the Ontario leaders' debate in 90 seconds, the third and final debate ahead of the June 7 election.

The moment

Liberal candidate crashes Horwath event

6 years ago
Duration 0:47
Shafiq Qadri showed up to NDP Leader Andrea Horwath's campaign stop Monday morning and she had to ask him to be quiet.

NDPLeader Andrea Horwathhad an unexpected visitor at her announcement in Etobicokethis morning local Liberal candidate (and longtime MPP) ShafiqQaadri.

Qaadribrought along a large Liberal sign and stood behind Horwathwhile she spoke to media.

"I think it is unfortunate that they have decided to do this," Horwath said. "What am I going to say? It's their decision to behave that way. They'll have to explain it for themselves."

Qaadrithen tried to butt in, but Horwathwouldn't let him. "I'm going to finish my press conference and you can have all the time you want to talk to the media. But please don't interrupt me. It's very rude."

The Liberal candidate defended his actions, saying he gets interruptedwhen he is campaigning.

When asked if it was a "desperatemove", Qaadrisaid "it may look that waybut as I say, it's really just my riding. I was campaigning just at the corner ... and that's why I'm here."

Wynnecalled Qaadri's crashing "inappropriate" while the Liberal'scampaign director David Herle was apologetic:

Qaadritweeted out his own apology this afternoon.

Noted

PC Leader Doug Ford speaks during a Monday morning round-table with some of his 'all-star candidates' in Newmarket. (CBC)

Ontario's PCs kicked off the last full week of campaigningMondayby hitting back at their apparent main opponent, the NDP, and the "radical activists" the PCs say are running for them in the election.

With polls putting the PCs and NDP tied for support, Leader Doug Ford hosted a round-table with about a dozen of his "all-star candidates," including veteran MPPs Vic Fedeli, Lisa MacLeod and Raymond Cho, as well as former party leadership rivals Caroline Mulroney and Christine Elliott.

Ford's round-table included veteran MPPs Vic Fedeli, Lisa MacLeod and Raymond Cho, as well as former party leadership rivals Caroline Mulroney and Christine Elliott, who sat beside him.

"You're going to see a stark difference between our team and the radical, activist candidates that the NDP have," Ford told reporters.

Asked whether the party's attacks on the NDP are a sign that the campaign isn't going well with about 10 days to go, MacLeod replied: "It's a sign that things are going great."

Riding to watch

London West,Population 125,360, profile by Colin Butler

This might be a race to remember in London West.

In one corner is Andrew Lawton, the controversial former radio host turned politico. In the other corner is NDP incumbent Peggy Sattler.

Lawton is Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford's controversial pick for the riding, an appointment that rubbed some local party loyalists the wrong way.

Early in the campaign, headlines about Lawton's past remarks about women, Islam and the LGBTQ community ruffled a few feathers. Lawton asked voters for their "compassion and trust," for his antagonizing words from the past, which he blames on his struggle with mental illness. He's remained controversy-free during the campaign.

And while Sattler has only held the riding since 2013, she brings with her 13 years experience campaigning and community organizing as a local trustee and former chair of the Thames Valley District School Board.

Meanwhile, the Liberals have an uphill battle on their hands. Jonathan Hughes likely faces a tough fight against two better-known rivals.

Poll tracker

Both the NDPand the Liberals have made slight gains while the PCs and the Greens fall. The NDP's odds of winning the most seats is now more than onein five whileodds of a PC majority are now a coin toss. Get the full breakdown.

Where the leaders are

  • Ford:Candidate roundtable in Newmarket (10:30 a.m.), rally in Peterborough (6:30 p.m.)
  • Horwath: Announcement in Etobicoke (9:30 a.m), event at Brothers Brewing CompanyinGuelph (12:30 p.m.), campaign event in Ancaster(5 p.m.)
  • Schreiner:Bike to work day (7:15 a.m.), ribbon-cutting at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (10:30 a.m.)
  • Wynne: Run in Toronto (8:15 a.m.),Iftardinner in Mississauga (7:45 p.m.)

We're tracking the Ontario leaders on the campaign trail.See where they have stopped.

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, left to right, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath listen to a question from an audience member as they participate during the third and final televised debate of the provincial election campaign in Toronto on Sunday. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

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For more Ontario election coverage

With files from Andrea Janus and Victoria Valido