TORONTO – Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford (pictured) has appointed candidates in nearly a dozen ridings ahead of the upcoming provincial election, and they include the son of a former premier.

With Ontarians set to go to the polls on June 7, the PCs released a statement Saturday announcing 11 appointees for ridings where a nomination meeting hadn’t been scheduled.

They include Mike Harris Jr., the son of former Ontario premier and Nipissing MPP Mike Harris, who led a Tory government in the province for nearly seven years in the late-’90s and early-2000s.

Harris Jr. has been appointed to represent the PCs in the riding of Kitchener-Conestoga, a seat currently held by a politician with a strikingly similar name.

Michael Harris, no relation to Harris Jr., announced earlier this month he would not be running for re-election due to medical reasons.

He was later booted from the Tory caucus amid allegations of harassment from a former intern.

(The Canadian Press)

 

PHOTO: Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford holds a unity rally in Toronto on Monday, March 19, 2018. Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford has appointed candidates in nearly a dozen ridings ahead of the upcoming provincial election, and they include the son of a former premier.They include Mike Harris Jr., the son of former Ontario premier Mike Harris, who led a Tory government in the province for nearly seven years from 1995 to 2002. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Filed under: Kitchener-Conestoga, Mike Harris Jr, Nipissing, north bay