Dear editor:

Donald Trump and Doug Ford — not real bright and damn proud of it.

Even though Donald and Doug may appear as brothers under the skin, even brothers may have a falling out, as follows.

Question: How do you bury innumerable attacks on democracy, woodlands, farmlands, wetlands, flood plains, autistic children, the public health system, public education, the Landlord and Tenant Board, freedom of information, etc.?

Well, why not copy Donald Trump, and just start to rant about something that you have never mentioned before? If Trump can do it, why shouldn’t Ford and his royal Republicans? Generally speaking, Toronto and Washington should be copacetic in such matters.

Remember the last Ontario election at the beginning of 2025? It had to be held because Trump was imposing tariffs on Canada. Say what? That isn’t quite the Premier of Ontario’s bailiwick. Don’t we have a guy named Mark Carney who is supposed to deal with international concerns?

No matter. The Trump tariffs were good for keeping emerging kerfuffles about “Where is democracy now?”, “Where are environmental issues now?”, “Where are health issues now?”, and “Where is help for the poor and homeless now?” off the front pages and off television’s prime-time news.

Ford was able to bury the legislative opposition by a myriad of “public service” advertisements, attack ads, photo-ops, official government statements, press conferences, pop quotes, etc.

In short, “There’s no business like show business.”

One wonders whether there is another election in the offing again, as Ford continues to run the province without the legislature, and governs through the Toronto media.

As with Trump, the goal is to be the most recognizable presence out there, as well as being in position to manipulate the public agenda. In which case, actual problems and actual realities never have to be addressed. Not until after the next election anyway.

Kevin McCabe
St. Catharines