Doug Ford would allow some development. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Within the span of a few minutes Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford flip-flopped on whether his party’s campaign platform will run a deficit.

Ford spoke to reporters for less than four minutes in his first media availability since becoming leader on March 10.

About the platform, Ford first said “yeah it’s going to be balanced.” A minute later when asked by another reporter if he would run a deficit he said “lets take a look.” Adding that he wanted to speak with his caucus first.

Ford spoke to reporters heading into his first caucus meeting with Progressive Conservative MPPs.

During the leadership race two out of 27 PC MPPs endorsed Ford.

Following Monday’s throne speech from the provincial government, Ford released a statement criticizing the Liberal’s spending promises.

In a very brief scrum with reporters @fordnation first says he will put forward a balanced budget, then asked a separate time he says: let’s take a look #onpoli pic.twitter.com/bO1wg54EsL — Marieke Walsh (@MariekeWalsh) March 20, 2018

“Ontario is the most indebted province or state in the world,” he said on Monday. “We can’t afford to further mortgage our future any longer.”

Despite the strong critique, what his own spending will look like isn’t clear. So far he’s promised to cut hospital wait times and find “efficiencies” in the province’s operations.

Speaking to reporters again after the caucus meeting, Ford said answers on whether he will also propose deficit spending will come “in the next week or so.”

On Monday evening Ford held a “unity rally” in Etobicoke. The jam-packed convention centre greeted Ford with thundering cheers but the introduction from runner-up leadership candidate Christine Elliott never happened.

Asked about that on Tuesday, Ford said he’s “not sure” why Elliott didn’t speak.

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