From high heating bills to “hallway medicine,” Doug Ford said the province has suffered under the Liberals and that the Progressive Conservative party — which he wants to lead — must “present Ontarians with a compassionate and responsible vision.”

He also told the hundreds of supporters Saturday night at Toronto’s Congress Centre as he launched his leadership bid that he does not support the carbon tax — a key part of the party’s platform that provides the funding for it. And, returning to a familiar Ford theme, he said that he “is the only candidate that will save you money and keep your taxes low.”

Urging those in attendance to become PC members, Ford told them “the stakes have never been higher.”

The crowd loudly jeered and booed each time the Liberals or Premier Kathleen Wynne were mentioned.

Ford, who served a term on city council, was the first to publicly declare his candidacy for PC leader, holding a press conference in the basement of his mother’s Etobicoke home.

Meanwhile, former MPP Christine Elliott tweeted “I’m in,” on Thursday afternoon.

Caroline Mulroney and Rod Phillips, neither of whom have held public office, are also expected to soon announce their intentions for the March 10 leadership contest.

Speaking to reporters, Ford said he has been in touch with Elliott — a family friend who he said he has great respect for — and wished her well.

The Tory party has been mired in chaos following the resignation of Patrick Brown, who, in a CTV report was accused of sexual impropriety with two young women when he was a federal member of parliament. He has said there is no truth to the allegations. He faces no charges.

While the PC party has said all candidates need to support the “People’s Guarantee” platform released late last year by Brown, both Ford and Elliott have questioned the carbon tax.

Ford told reporters after his speech that he would look for other ways to fund campaign promises, but that he is 100 per cent against the carbon tax.

And, if the federal government attempts to force it on the provinces, “just watch me,” he told the crowd, echoing the words of Justin Trudeau’s father, former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Ford has previously said he’d like to revisit the updated Ontario sex-education curriculum to give parents more input.

Candidates have to file nomination papers by Feb. 16, and pay fees totalling $125,000.

Ford entered the room to the Rocky theme “Eye of the Tiger,” and left as Twisted Sister’s “We’re not gonna take it” blared over the sound system.

The large crowd, a mix of all ages from the elderly to young families with children, cheered loudly for the former Toronto city councillor who was introduced by nephew Michael Ford — a one-time school trustee who now sits on council — and three of Ford’s four daughters.

“Our dad is a man of his word,” they said, adding he is “a force to be reckoned with . . . the one person we can count on for anything.”

Ford said he will run a positive campaign.

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When asked about his intentions should he fail to become leader, he said he will still seek the Etobicoke North seat.

Mississauga resident John Barnard said he feels “change is in the air” for the upcoming provincial election and that Ford is the candidate who will make that happen.

Barnard, who was one of the early arrivals at Ford’s leadership bid kickoff Saturday night at the Toronto Congress Centre, said he is supporting Ford because he “gets straight to the point.”

The Liberal hold on Ontario needs to end, said Barnard, clutching a free “Team Ford” T-shirt he was given on his way in.

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