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OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used Ontario Premier Doug Ford as a boogeyman in a rallying speech to Liberal candidates in Ottawa on Wednesday morning that will likely set the tone for the coming election campaign.

Despite pledging to rise above partisan attacks and “the politics of fear and division,” Trudeau spent a large part of his speech criticizing Conservative politicians and warning that a Conservative government would mean only cuts and austerity. He also raised the spectre of former prime minister Stephen Harper, reminding his audience that Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has never seemed to mind being referred to as “Harper with a smile.”

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But it was Ford, not Harper, who seemed to be top of mind for many of the Liberals in attendance. The Ontario premier’s popularity has suffered in recent months, following a cronyism scandal that led to the resignation of his chief of staff, Dean French. Ford has also been criticized for cuts to health care, education, research and legal aid. Polls suggest his performance could hurt the federal Conservatives this fall.