What Doug Ford did say — and what he didn’t — at this year’s Ford Fest

“Every single day.”

The upbeat premier at times sounded like he was giving a campaign address. He was backed by a wall of smiling Cabinet ministers as he spoke. But some in attendance Friday night seemed less interested in political talk than in the freebies and socializing.

As in the past, this year’s version Ford Fest featured free burgers, including halal and veggie options, and ice cream. There were also inflatable bouncy games for kids, but no pony rides, as in some past Ford Fests. There was also no mention of what happened Friday at Queen’s Park.

Ford’s 20 minutes of comments, in a steady drizzle, came after the surprise resignation of Education Minister Todd Smith.

Smith resigned as Ford’s education minister just 10 weeks onto the job, saying he was moving to the private sector.

The departure of Smith, who represented Bay of Quinte, means there will be a byelection within six months.

The crowd cheered mildly as Ford promised to put more money in the hands of taxpayers, in part by fighting the federal carbon tax.

“You can spend it a lot wiser than the government can spend it,” he said.

The event had a strong, but low key, police presence. The rain picked up shortly after Ford spoke, largely washing away a protest from across a road. Demonstrators had been kept outside of shouting distance — and eyesight — from the event.

Many of the people inside the gates were longtime loyalists, who said Ford had remained true to his roots.

Others, such as Sadhu Mundi and his friend, Balvinder Soor, saw the event largely as a neighbourhood gathering, rather than a political rally.

Soor, who said he was older than 75, said he appreciated the chance to get together with his friends in what he considered a low-key environment.

He and Mundi got there early, entitling them to free “GET IT DONE” T-shirts, which they sported as they enjoyed ice cream.

Longtime Ford Nation member Irene Borecky, 63, said she forgives Ford when he makes mistakes, saying his occasional miscues have only make him more human in her eyes.

“It’s service above self,” said Borecky, a retired program analyst. “He’s very easy to talk to.”

There was no mention of the RCMP criminal investigation underway into the $8.28 Greenbelt land swap, and Borecky didn’t care.

She said she has attended Ford Fests for more than a dozen years and loves the community feeling, as well as old rock tunes, such as “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone from 1974, “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits from 1985, and Bang A Gong (Get it On) from T. Rex in 1971.

For Kim Cait, 47, the gathering was a chance for a low-cost family outing. She has two sets of twins — ages eight and 10 — and said she appreciated the free ice cream, burgers and games.

Robocalls from the Progressive Conservative party had summoned potential voters to Ford Fest. The party has traditionally used the event to identify voters and raise money for its war chest.

Since the early days, when they were held in his mother’s Etobicoke backyard, Ford Fests have gone on to be held in Scarborough, London, Windsor-Essex, and Kitchener-Waterloo.

This was its first venture into Milton. 

The event comes amid speculation about an early provincial election in 2025.

Ford reminded the soggy gathering that Ford Fests have a long history.

“It started in our backyard 28 years ago,” Ford said.

With a file from Rob Ferguson