By popular demand, Canada’s populist premier has finally hit the hustings in the heartland of Ontario.

This time, not a single boo — because no Doug Ford. No, we speak of another right-leaning premier who spoke to adoring crowds last weekend:

Jason Kenney flew in from Alberta at the behest of his fellow Tories, who cheerfully paid his way while beseeching Ford to stay away. Today, Kenney has eclipsed Ford as Ontario’s most popular premier

First stop, Etobicoke, to take the beating pulse of Ford Nation. Next stop, 905, where Kenney’s fans lined up for selfies — the way they once did for Ford.

And then on to the next stop, and the next: 23 scheduled events, visiting and revisiting and cultural groups and faith communities Kenney cultivated during his years in the Stephen Harper government as the minister overseeing multiculturalism, immigration and refugee issues.

Communing with Coptic Canadians. Dim sum with Chinese Canadians in Richmond Hill. Visits to synagogues and gurdwaras to meet Jews and Sikhs. A mosque and mandir to meet Muslims and Hindus. Extra stops for Gujaratis and Iraqis.

The list is long — far longer, it seems, than those seeking an audience with our own provincial premier. Far fewer now wait in line for Ford, but he has his press lines ready:

“He is focused on governing and improving life for the people of Ontario,” a spokesperson explained.

The now-unpopular populist who helms “Ontario’s First Government For the People” has a perfectly good excuse for staying out of sight. And he’s sticking to it.

But Kenney, it must be pointed out, also has a province to run. And still has the energy to fly clear across the country, hopscotching from Ottawa to the Greater Toronto Area, making it back in time to open Alberta’s legislature on Tuesday without breaking a sweat.

By contrast, our premier won’t get around to reopening Ontario’s legislature (for the people’s representatives) until Oct. 28, a full week after federal election day, after keeping Queen’s Park dark for four months. And while school strike deadlines come and go — there are yet more ahead — Ford remains unseen and unheard, relegating government business to cabinet ministers who won’t be booed.

Humiliating as it is for him to watch Kenney marking “Ford Nation” territory over the weekend, what truly hurts is being kept at bay by the federal Conservative leader, Andrew Scheer. Visiting an Etobicoke riding last week, Scheer never mentioned the Ontario premier’s name, nor the Ford legacy.

Any Tory, whether knocking on doorsteps or stumping on the campaign trail, dreads where Ford treads. Even more humbling for Ford is that his Alberta counterpart still has what he doesn’t have:

Kenney still has coattails — while our own premier is the emperor who has no clothes. Both are populists, but only one is popular today.

Both are rambunctious, but only Kenney commands respect. Both are quotable, but only Ford has become risible and miserable. Both are controversial figures, but only Kenney remains courteous under fire.

Both are stubbornly opposed to carbon pricing, but only Ford has stooped to forcing stickers on every gas pump in the province so he could “stick it to the Liberals.” Now he’s stuck in the shadows.

Four years ago, then-premier Kathleen Wynne — still popular after winning a majority government mandate — campaigned alongside her federal counterpart, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, at public rallies. Like Wynne, Trudeau won a strong electoral mandate for carbon pricing — which Ford has tried to undo every step of the way.

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He has budgeted $30 million to fight carbon pricing in the law courts and the court of public opinion, with stickers that won’t stick, and advertising propaganda that won’t persuade. Ford seems to believe his 2018 mandate from the people overrides Trudeau’s 2015 mandate from the people.

When Ford returns to his public duties on Oct. 28, he will have a decision to make, for a populist can hardly ignore the people: If Trudeau wins another federal mandate, does that mean Ford has lost his putative mantle to sabotage carbon pricing?

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