Toronto

The Fords gave Conservative Leader Stephen Harper a helping hand on Saturday night and he gave them a public thank-you.

While Harper didn’t shake hands or appear on stage with Rob Ford, he did have his brother Doug Ford come out to warm up the crowd a few minutes before he took the stage at the Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke.

The rally included Conservative candidates from across the GTA and comes just before Canadians go to the polls on Monday.

Conservative organizers estimate more than 2,200 people turned out for the rally after a major push by the Fords to bring out supporters.

The ex-mayor sat near the front with his wife Renata and his mother Diane.

In his speech ahead of Harper, Doug Ford came out swinging at Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

“He will absolutely destroy (this country),” Ford told the frenzied crowd, adding that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is Trudeau’s “new mentor.”

“God help this country. It would be an absolute disaster if Justin Trudeau and Kathleen Wynne were running this country.”

The former councillor and 2014 mayoral candidate went on to tie the federal Conservatives to Rob Ford’s “respect for taxpayers” campaign slogan.

“There is only one party that respects the taxpayer and that’s the Conservative Party of Canada and there is only one leader that can lead this country to prosperity and that is Stephen Harper,” Ford said.

When he started his speech, Harper thanked all of the constituency associations, organizers and “the volunteers including the Fords” for helping get the crowd out for the rally.

Harper then delved into a lengthy speech attacking the Liberals and urging supporters to get out the vote on Monday.

“Friends, I know you are not fooled, but do not let your relatives be fooled, your neighbours be fooled, your co-workers be fooled,” Harper said.

He also tied Trudeau to Wynne’s government.

“It would be just like the Ontario Liberal government — deficit after deficit, tax hike after tax hike, cut after cut,” Harper said. “We cannot afford to have our national government run like that.”

Rob Ford later posted a behind-the-scenes photo to his Twitter account of Harper with the entire Ford family.

Thank you @pmharper it was great to see you tonight & thanks to the thousands of people who came #elxn42#elxn2015pic.twitter.com/tqIxs0inxD — Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) October 18, 2015

Earlier in the day, Harper was asked why he’s hitching his wagon to Rob Ford “this late in the game” and why he won’t mention the family by name.

“This campaign, our Conservative campaign from one end of the country to the other — including in the great area of Etobicoke which I grew up in as a teenager — is about making sure that we keep our economy on track by lowering taxes, balancing budget, keeping our spending under control, helping families and that’s what we’re going to be doing from now until election day,” Harper said.

Ahead of the rally, the Liberals released several past quotes from Conservatives slamming the Fords.

“Even after ten failed years defined by negativity and division, Stephen Harper has shown that he will sink to any depth. Mr. Harper is campaigning with the same two men who he referred to as ‘a bunch of losers,’ and who represent everything he pretends to be against,” Team Trudeau press secretary Cameron Ahmad said in a statement.

“On Monday, Canadians have the opportunity to elect a government that will finally reflect their values and their priorities. On Monday, Canadians can vote for Justin Trudeau’s ambitious vision for the future and a real plan for a strong middle class.”

don.peat@sunmedia.ca