Randall Denley: Doug Ford needs to snap out of his slump

Ontario Premier Doug Ford in the main foyer at Queen's Park on June 10, 2026. Photo by Peter Power /Peter Power

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What’s next? That’s the question Ontario Premier Doug Ford should be asking himself during the Ontario legislature’s 21-week “summer” recess.

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This is a crucial moment in Ford’s premiership. On June 29, he marks his eighth year in office. That’s the point where governments often lose momentum and direction, becoming tired and complacent, more interested in looking back on their accomplishments than tackling new challenges.

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One could certainly argue that Ford’s government is well into that zone now. Other than Canada-U.S. trade issues and pet projects like expanding Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport, what does Ford intend to do with his remaining time in office?

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Normally, after eight years a government would be compelled to answer that question for voters because its term would be up. Fortunately for him, Ford doesn’t have to worry about that, having seized the opportunity for a free-trade election last year.

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That doesn’t mean Ford is immune to public opinion. A new Angus Reid Institute poll showed Ford’s approval rating at a mere 21 per cent, lowest among all premiers and the poorest number he’s ever had. Ford rather petulantly called it a “fake” poll this week and suggested that the veteran pollster had polled the Liberal and NDP caucuses.

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Despite Ford’s own perceived poor performance, he has been lucky. The Liberals are leaderless and the NDP is led by the struggling Marit Stiles. It’s hard to say which is the larger problem.

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Regardless of his low approval rating, the premier has another three years in office without electoral peril. It’s a gift, but what will he make of it?

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Here are the steps Ford should take. First, spend more time talking to Ontarians, not Americans. Leave the Washington trips to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

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Rather than rely on what he hears from people who choose to call him on his cellphone, Ford and his team need to conduct a wide-ranging and well-organized search for ideas. Talk to business leaders, think tanks, non-profits, people in health care, and ordinary folks fighting to make a living in tough times. Deliberately seek out people who think he hasn’t been doing a good job. They won’t be hard to find.

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Ford needs to ask only one question: “What more do you think I can do to make Ontario better?”

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Ford should focus particularly on areas where his government has not done enough. Hospital funding and realistic support for the disabled come to mind.

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A July and August listening tour should lead to a fall cabinet shuffle, new ministers for refreshed priorities. A new look requires a different, smaller cabinet. Ford’s cabinet has 37 members, nearly half his caucus. It’s not because they are an all-star team. How many people could name even three of them?