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robertbenzie.bsky.social
Robert Benzie
@robertbenzie.bsky.social
4.2K followers 110 following 660 posts
Queen's Park Bureau Chief
Toronto Star

https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/robert-benzie/
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robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @VassyKapelos on @VassKapelosShow at 1 pm on @NEWSTALK1010 with @l_stone and ⁦‪@mikelecouteur‬⁩.
#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Mines, hydro project and LNG facility expected to make Mark Carney’s list of major projects
Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to refer them to Major Projects Office on Thursday, according to a list obtained by the Star.
www.thestar.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
"Government doesn't have an income problem, government has a spending problem," insists Premier Doug Ford, whose government has a $13.5B deficit and is spending 35% more than former premier Kathleen Wynne's administration did in 2018.
#onpoli
November 12, 2025 at 5:07 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
The ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩’s ⁦‪@reggcohn‬⁩, whose work led premier ⁦‪@Kathleen_Wynne‬⁩ to reform Ontario political fundraising laws, on Premier Doug Ford loosening the rules. Wynne’s $1,200 donation limit will soon be $5,000 under Ford.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pol...
Martin Regg Cohn: Doug Ford’s donation free-for-all is no way to nurture democracy
Ford government's increase to campaign donations makes a mockery of hard-won campaign finance limits.
www.thestar.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining ⁦‪@eskura‬⁩ on ⁦‪@OttawaMorning‬⁩ at 6:45 am.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Anti-tariff ad that derailed trade talks didn’t hurt Doug Ford’s popularity, poll suggests
Ontario's anti-tariff ad generated worldwide headlines by derailing Canadian trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, but a new poll suggests it has not affected Premier Doug Ford's popularity.
www.thestar.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 AM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @MooreintheAM on @NEWSTALK1010 at 8:45 am with @sunirachaudhri and @RichardCrouse.

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Anti-tariff ad that derailed trade talks didn’t hurt Doug Ford’s popularity, poll suggests
Ontario's anti-tariff ad generated worldwide headlines by derailing Canadian trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, but a new poll suggests it has not affected Premier Doug Ford's popularity.
www.thestar.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Remembering with gratitude my grandfather, Jack Benzie, called up at age 20 in 1939. He survived the war and returned home to Scotland in 1946 after a year with the British occupying forces in Germany.
#LestWeForget
November 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @VassyKapelos on @CTV_PowerPlay at 5:30 pm with @lraitt, @ThomasMulcair, and @BrianGallantNB.
#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics.html
Political News - Canadian Politics | The Star
Canadian politics news and opinion from the Star's leading journalists. Visit thestar.com for full coverage of political issues that matter to you.
www.thestar.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
NEW: ⁦‪@abacusdataca‬⁩ poll in the ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩:
⁦‪@OntarioPCParty‬⁩: 51%
⁦‪@OntLiberal‬⁩: 23%
⁦‪@OntarioNDP‬⁩: 19%
⁦‪@OntarioGreens‬⁩: 3%
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Anti-tariff ad that derailed trade talks didn’t hurt Doug Ford’s popularity, poll suggests
Ontario's anti-tariff ad generated worldwide headlines by derailing Canadian trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, but a new poll suggests it has not affected Premier Doug Ford's popularity.
www.thestar.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
The ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩’s ⁦‪@karonliu‬⁩ on the food scene at Queen’s Park.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/life/food-an...
Did you know you can have lunch (and $5 avocado toast) at Queen’s Park? Here’s a look inside
Inside the Legislative Building, two government-run eateries feed politicians, staff and the public with affordable menus and local ingredients.
www.thestar.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
NEW: ⁦‪@abacusdataca‬⁩ poll for the ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩ finds ⁦‪@CPC_HQ‬⁩ would do better under ⁦‪@PierrePoilievre‬⁩ than Doug Ford, Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney, Caroline Mulroney or Tim Houston, among other potential leaders.
#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Pierre Poilievre does better than Doug Ford and other possible leaders against Mark Carney, poll suggests
Abacus found that in a hypothetical ballot the Poilievre-led Tories were at 38 per cent to 36 per cent for the Liberals of Prime Minister Mark Carney.
www.thestar.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:07 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @agalbraith on Free For All Friday on @NEWSTALK1010 at 1 p.m. with Deidra Tindale.
#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/
Political News - Canadian Politics | The Star
Canadian politics news and opinion from the Star's leading journalists. Visit thestar.com for full coverage of political issues that matter to you.
www.thestar.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining ⁦‪@eskura‬⁩ on ⁦‪@OttawaMorning‬⁩ at 6:45 am.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Ford government’s fall economic statement forecasts $13.5-billion deficit due to Donald Trump’s tariffs
Ontario is projecting a $13.5 billion deficit this fiscal year, ballooning from a $1.1 billion shortfall in 2024-25.
www.thestar.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:16 AM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
BREAKING: After nearly getting back in the black last year, Ontario is again awash in red ink. The fall economic statement is projecting a $13.5 billion deficit this fiscal year — ballooning from a $1.1 billion shortfall in 2024-25.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Ford government’s fall economic statement forecasts $13.5B deficit due to Trump’s tariffs
Ontario is projecting a $13.5 billion deficit this fiscal year, ballooning from a $1.1 billion shortfall in 2024-25.
www.thestar.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @VassyKapelos on @VassKapelosShow at 1 pm on @NEWSTALK1010 with @l_stone and @mikelecouteur. 
#cdnpoli

 www.thestar.com/politics.html
Political News - Canadian Politics | The Star
Canadian politics news and opinion from the Star's leading journalists. Visit thestar.com for full coverage of political issues that matter to you.
www.thestar.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
@thestar.com has complete coverage of the federal budget.
#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Canada budget 2025 live updates: Mark Carney’s Liberals table first budget; deficit rises to $78 billion
The budget has been billed as a mixture of austerity and big spending. Here’s everything you need to know.
www.thestar.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:16 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
NEW: Who says the bromance is dead? Premier Doug Ford insists his relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney is as strong ever despite the flap with President Donald Trump over the Ontario government’s anti-tariff advertising blitz.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Doug Ford insists his relationship with Mark Carney ‘is still strong’
Premier Doug Ford insists his relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney is as strong ever despite the flap with President Donald Trump over the Ontario government's anti-tariff advertising blitz.
www.thestar.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:23 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @MooreintheAM on @NEWSTALK1010 at 8:45 am with @sunirachaudhri and @RichardCrouse.

www.thestar.com/politics.html
Political News - Canadian Politics | The Star
Canadian politics news and opinion from the Star's leading journalists. Visit thestar.com for full coverage of political issues that matter to you.
www.thestar.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @RebeccaZandberg on @CBCOttawaMorning at 6:45 am.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Doug Ford says he rejected two Mark Carney requests to pull anti-tariff ad
The Reagan ad caused a furious U.S. President Donald Trump to scuttle trade talks with Canada.
www.thestar.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
Joining @DavidWCochrane on @pnpcbc at 6:40 pm with @StephanieLevitz and @RickBellwrites.
#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics.html
Political News - Canadian Politics | The Star
Canadian politics news and opinion from the Star's leading journalists. Visit thestar.com for full coverage of political issues that matter to you.
www.thestar.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:06 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
From the front page of the ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩, ⁦‪@RDiManno‬⁩ on the ⁦‪@BlueJays‬⁩’ memorable run.

www.thestar.com/sports/blue-...
Rosie DiManno: Love for the Blue Jays, and their love for each other, means not having to say they’re sorry
"This group has taught me what a team is," Bo Bichette says. "I think it’s probably the most valuable lesson of my career.’’
www.thestar.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:28 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
NEW: President Donald Trump claims Prime Minister Mark Carney “apologized” for Premier Doug Ford’s anti-tariff ad that derailed trade talks. But no new negotiations planned. Trump also hasn’t followed through on his 10% tariff threat.
#onpoli
#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Mark Carney apologized to Donald Trump for Ontario’s anti-tariff ad during Asia trip
However, when he was asked whether he would resume trade talks with Canada, Trump replied emphatically, “No.”
www.thestar.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:50 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
NEW: Premier Doug Ford is taking his anti-tariff message to two of the most influential newspapers in the United States: the ⁦‪@WSJ‬⁩ and the ⁦‪@washingtonpost‬⁩.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Doug Ford takes his anti-tariff case to influential U.S. newspapers
Ford has penned pieces that appeared in the Washington Post on Friday and in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
www.thestar.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
NEW: The ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩’s ⁦‪@MoiraWelsh‬⁩ on how the government doesn’t know what kind of jobs Skills Development Fund program users are getting — because the data isn’t tracked.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Doug Ford’s Skills Development Fund doesn’t track the type of work recipients got, insider says
No one in charge of the $2.5 billion program knows whether the employment numbers are for full-time, part-time or temporary work.
www.thestar.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:48 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
The ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩’s ⁦‪@reggcohn‬⁩ on the presidential temper tantrum over a president being quoted accurately in Ontario’s TV ad.
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pol...
Martin Regg Cohn: Doug Ford’s message to America reveals Donald Trump’s weakness
There’s nothing’s wrong with reminding Americans of the anti-protectionist passions of Ronald Reagan but did Ford’s high stakes play provoke the president at the worst possible time?
www.thestar.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
robertbenzie.bsky.social
NEW: Premier Doug Ford denounces "absolutely unacceptable" profane tirade by U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra against Ontario's representative to Washington. Ford says Hoekstra needs to apologize to David Paterson and "bury the hatchet."
#onpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Doug Ford urges U.S. ambassador to ‘apologize’ for f-bombs aimed at Ontario diplomat
U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra angrily complained to David Paterson, Ontario’s Washington point person about Ford’s anti-tariff ad, sources told the Star.
www.thestar.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM