Ontario voters face a “stark choice” in the June election, Premier Kathleen Wynne said Monday at an event touting government initiatives such as youth pharmacare and post-secondary tuition rebates.

“No matter who we’re fighting against, it is always about who we’re fighting for and what we are fighting for,” she said when asked about campaigning against newly elected Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford.

“From my perspective, it didn’t matter who the leader of the Conservatives was going to be, our policies are about investing in people, investing in the care of people in this province and allowing people to be able to care for one another ...

“What we are putting forward as a platform is very, very different than what any of the Conservatives were putting forward, which is cutting and removing supports from people. We’re saying that people need more support.”

Ford, confirmed as the PC leader after a long, chaotic leadership event Saturday, spent his first workday appearing on a number of radio and television shows and made a quick, unannounced visit to Queen’s Park.

“We can’t wait to take on Kathleen Wynne and start putting money in the taxpayer’s pocket instead of the government’s pocket,” he told reporters after a lunchtime appearance on CP24.

“I had a good chat with Kathleen Wynne in the last hour,” he added. “I have a great deal of respect for her, she’s a great campaigner, debater, and I’ve never underestimated her, but she’s never debated Doug Ford before and I can’t wait.”

Up until Sunday evening, fellow leadership contender Christine Elliott was questioning Ford’s narrow win — especially after she won both the popular vote and more ridings — but after meeting with him, she emerged saying she fully supports her long-time family friend.

“I have been a proud Progressive Conservative for over 25 years and my commitment remains steadfast. As I have been saying every day during this campaign, Ontario needs us,” she said in a statement. “That is why I entered this race.”

Ford told reporters Monday that he appreciates and respects Elliott.

“It’s absolutely critical she came on board and played an instrumental part in our party,” he said.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne rallied the Liberal troops at the party's annual convention on Saturday, their last get-together before the June election. Wynne admitted her party has a lot of work to do to win the election. (The Canadian Press)

A Forum poll released Sunday showed that while 48 per cent of voters surveyed disapprove of Ford, the PCs would still win the election.

Wynne said those numbers are not what she’s focusing on.

“For the next number of weeks — I know there’s going to be a lot of conversation about polls. There’s going to be a lot of conversation about the politics that we’re in, and I get that,” she said at a press conference at St. Paul Catholic elementary school in downtown Toronto.

“But, honestly, what we need to focus on as a government and from my perspective as the premier of the province, I need to focus on what it is that people are saying to me in terms of what they need.”

She said it’s “not news to anyone” that she and Ford “disagree on a lot of things.”

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Speaking to Ontario’s English Catholic teachers later Monday morning, she warned that the PCs “cannot deliver on the promises they’ve made unless they make billions in cuts. A ‘value for money’ audit isn’t going to cut it.”

“We did the math, and if the Conservatives have their way, over 7,000 education workers will lose their jobs ... Let me just say this: That is not our way of doing things.”

With files from Samantha Beattie

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