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Thank you to everyone who attended my Rally for a Better Ontario tonight. Your support has been overwhelming. If you haven't signed up yet, please go to https://t.co/pVgHXpuyvy and buy your membership now! #onpoli #pcpo — Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 4, 2018

“Seniors are forced to choose between…heating or eating.”

Introduced by three of his four daughters and accompanied on stage by his wife, Karla (wearing a sleek black ensemble), Ford told the energized crowd he will be the only candidate who will invest in keeping taxes low and is determined not to support policies that will keep Ontario less competitive.

“The Liberal government has zero respect for hardworking taxpayers…we say enough is enough,” he said.

He assured the crowd — to hoots and hollers — he will not introduce carbon tax, a plank in former leader Patrick Brown’s “People’s Guarantee” policy platform released last November.

“That is a bad tax,” he said. “If the prime minister wants to make us (put the tax in place), I will say ‘Just watch me.'”

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Throughout his 15-minute speech, Ford — knowing full well he must sign up new members to beat the competition — urged his supporters to purchase a $10-membership in the next two weeks, reiterating more than once that if they aren’t members they can’t vote for him.

To date, only Ford and former MPP Christine Elliott (who was edged out by the Brown contingent in 2015) have confirmed they’re running for leader. Caroline Mulroney, a lawyer, financial executive and mother of four and Postmedia chairman Rod Phillips — both nominated candidates — are expected to indicate whether they intend to join the fray in the next few days.

“I have nothing but respect for my colleagues,” Ford said of the competition.