Windsor West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky says she’s been hearing from residents after a text message campaign from Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario PC Party landed on phones across the region.
The message highlighted Ontario’s job creation numbers and asked recipients if they support the government’s plan to bring more jobs to Windsor and across the province.
Gretzky says people have reached out to her to share their thoughts on the campaign and broader concerns about affordability, housing and employment.
“They’re unsolicited conversations and comments from people reaching out to me, out in community or through my office to say that they were actually, in some cases, they said, infuriated by the message, and others were pointing out how completely out of touch and frankly entitled they think the the premier and his government are,” Gretzky said.
She says concerns raised by residents go beyond the text message itself, pointing to issues she says people continue to talk about.
“Is the Conservative plan to see an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness? Because that’s a reality in Windsor and across the province. Is the plan to watch good paying jobs like those at Diageo and Titan Tool and Die leave to go to another country? Because that’s exactly what has happened in Windsor lately,” she said.
Gretzky encourages residents to share their views and concerns with local PC MPPs.
“I would ask that everybody be respectful in providing those messages, but I would certainly encourage people,” she said.
“The text message seems to be soliciting a response about one particular question, but, I think it’s a great opportunity to let the premier and the Conservative Party know exactly what is happening in this province.”
It was unclear how many people received the text message.
AM800 News has reached out to the premier’s office for comment.