Kathleen Wynne began her campaign in Doug Ford’s backyard.

The Liberal leader’s first official event of the June 7 election was held in Etobicoke, the traditional turf of the Progressive Conservative leader.

“I was here for Peter,” joked Wynne, referring to Etobicoke Lakeshore MPP Peter Milczyn, her housing minister.

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“We’re going to be all over the province and I am going to push against and fight against Mr. Ford’s agenda wherever I am in the province,” she said Wednesday at the home of seniors Bob and Christa Stewart.

Ford said Wynne is welcome in Etobicoke.

"She's entitled to go everywhere she wants. I'm sure I'll be in her neighbourhood."

Wynne, premier since 2013 and leader of a party in office for almost 15 years, was promoting the new “seniors’ healthy homes program,” that passed in the budget on Tuesday.

It will provide up to $750 a year to help the elderly with household maintenance such as snow-shoveling, yard work, and cleaning so they can remain in their homes longer and ease the strain on seniors’ homes and long-term care facilities.

The Liberals argue that the Conservatives’ plan to cut $6 billion in spending annually will put such programs at risk.

The Stewarts, who have lived in their Kingsway-area home since 1982, said they welcomed the Grits’ initiative.

But they were more passionate when discussing the prospects of their nearby neighbour Ford becoming premier.

“I’m particularly concerned about the Ford situation and I worry very much about what might happen if he does get elected,” said Bob Stewart, 83, a retired KPMG consultant.

“I truly hope that people will come to their senses before the end of the election campaign and don’t choose Doug Ford. I am familiar with him — very much,” said Stewart.

“I watched his brother mess up city hall and I also watched Doug Ford support his brother in this mess and so I am wondering what does he bring to running the province?”

That was a reference to the late Rob Ford, the controversial mayor of Toronto between 2010 and 2014.

At Monday’s CityNews debate, Doug Ford promised to govern Ontario under the same “respect for taxpayers” mantra that he and his brother touted at city hall.

Retiree Christa Stewart, 80, who worked in real estate investment, said she has looked to south of the border as a cautionary tale.

“He just talks big — just like Mr. Trump,” she said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump.

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After the campaign event, Milczyn quipped of his constituents “they’re not actors.”

That was a shot at revelations PC candidate Meredith Cartwright paid actors to pose as Ford supporters outside Monday’s leaders’ debate.

Ford says he was not aware of the ruse.

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