TORONTO – A new Ekos Research poll has revealed that a majority of Ontarians find it somewhat weird or very weird that Doug Ford keeps calling them friends despite not having a friendship.

Some 67% of respondents said they find it “somewhat creepy” that the PC Leader is claiming some sort of amicable rapport with them, while 17% simply said “ugh.”

The PC Leader had repeatedly used the phrase last night in the debate and throughout the campaign for describing his relationship with the 13.5 million or so residents of Canada’s largest province.

“I’ve never met the guy,” said Shraavan Laghari of Markham. “And now he keep saying we’re friends? We have nothing in common and no mutual interests!”

From kindergarteners and parents to students and seniors, Ford’s genuine friends seemed few and far between.

“We’re more like acquaintances,” said PC candidate and former party leadership contender Christine Elliott. “Sorry, no, more like co-workers. I see him around sometimes and if he says ‘hi’ to me, I’ll say ‘hi’ back, but without much eye-contact.”

However, the poll managed to find at least one of his old buddies from his early 20s.

“Doug and I go way back,” said a middle aged man who simply went by the name of Jimmy. “He had some of the best hash in Etobicoke.”