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“We don’t believe that the regulations … will result in a safer or improved fire service. In fact, we believe that the changes would have the opposite effect by putting volunteer fire departments at risk of closure due to the significant cost implications,” said Spacek.

“Well, first of all, I love the firefighters. Absolutely love ’em. They’re absolute champions. They’re the best,” quoth Ford, to laughter. “And I’ll tell you, my friends, we’re going to make sure they have the proper resources. Any town, any town that doesn’t have a volunteer firefighters, we’ll make sure we have proper firefighters. We’ll give them the resources, because it’s absolutely critical to support the people in the area, support the firefighters and support our local police, the OPP.”

He wasn’t done with the loving: “I love the front line Emergency Services people. I’ve never hidden it. We’re going to make sure everyone has the resources to do their jobs properly.”

So, there’s Ford’s first responders policy: Loves ’em. Will give them lots of money, source TBD.

Mind you, Premier Kathleen Wynne and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath in essence said the same.

On another question, about a proposed pilot project that would bring “mid-skilled” immigrants to rural and Northern areas, Ford seemed to veer dangerously off message.

“I’d be more than happy to sit down and talk to the folks and look at a pilot project,” he said. “But number one, I’m a pretty generous guy. I’m taking care of our own first, and once we take care of our own and we exhaust every single avenue and we don’t have anyone that can fulfil the job, then I’d be open to that.”