Stiles suggests Ford could face jail as he defends honorary U.S. doctorate degree

At Queen’s Park Monday, Opposition Leader Marit Stiles said Premier Doug Ford could wind up going to jail.

She made the surprise suggestion on a day when Ford was on the defensive over an honorary doctorate from a University in Michigan.

Stiles made the suggestion or threat with a series of issues swirling around Ford.

She is suggesting what could happen if the NDP is elected to government.

With Queen’s Park back business after the weekend, the NDP leader came out with a stunning suggestion for the premier.

“…and you know what, maybe you won’t get another mandate because you’ll be in prison Doug,” said Stiles.

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The premier was back home from Michigan, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate, to which the opposition focused on in the legislature.

“The people of Ontario cannot afford groceries, let alone gas, and yet this premier is jetting off to private clubs to get honorary degrees,” said Stiles.

Ford said his trip to Michigan was about building economic relationships, “that’s our number one trading partner,” and said the doctorate wasn’t his idea.

“They asked me,” said Ford. “I didn’t lobby for it, I didn’t ask for it.”

But the opposition pointed to Ford’s changes to student funding, accusing him of gutting the Ontario Student Assistance Program.

“It’s ironic that this premier gets a degree for free,” said Liberal MPP John Fraser.

They also accused the government of not being transparent about the so-called “Gravy Plane” — the $29 million luxury jet bought for the premier last month, then sold following public reaction.

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They then focused on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigation into the government’s handling of the Greenbelt, and the changes to Freedom of Information laws to prevent access to the premier’s cell phone records.

“One thing is becoming very clear and that’s that this government has something to hide,” said Stiles.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow kidded Ford about the degree at an afternoon news conference Monday, where he defended himself, calling him “Premier Dr. Doug Ford.”

“I think you underestimate how smart people are out there — their number one issue right now is affordability and the economy,” said Ford. “They don’t worry about anything else.”

The NDP leader suggested the prison idea, saying there’s a lot of what she calls “terrible stuff” that could come out about the government.

“Well listen, don’t worry about it Doug — when I’m premier, I’m going to call a public inquiry into all of this, and we’re going to get our hands on all of that and you know what, maybe you won’t get another mandate because you’ll be in prison Doug.” – Stiles.

There’s no response from the premier’s office to the prison suggestion, and Ford said Monday his office is co-operating fully with the RCMP investigation that began in 2023 into the government’s handling of the Greenbelt.

READ MORE: Dr. Doug Ford: Ontario premier receives honorary degree from U.S. university