Doug Ford touts a fourth term in speech at Tory convention Saturday night

“I’m thrilled to be here today for our party’s first convention since our historic, third majority election win last February,” he said at the Toronto Congress Centre on Dixon Road.

“You’re helping us build a stronger, more united PC Party, a party that will continue to work for the people and a party that I look forward to leading to win a historic, fourth majority mandate with your help when the next election comes,” the premier said of a vote not expected until 2029 or 2030.

That line, which earned him a standing ovation from supporters, was a clear signal to any would-be Tory leadership hopefuls — including several ambitious cabinet ministers in the audience — that Ford, 61, isn’t planning on leaving any time soon.

The last Ontario premier to serve four terms was the late PC titan Bill Davis, who won elections in 1971, 1975, 1977, and 1981.

Ford has led the party to victory in 2018, 2022, and last year.

The Tories originally banned journalists from covering the partisan address, saying the three-day confab was “a closed event and will not be open to media attendance.”

Two days after the Star reported the unprecedented press prohibition on Wednesday, making headlines across the country, the Tories flip-flopped and relented to allow media coverage of the speech.

The ban was so mishandled that some party executives only learned of it from the Star.

Ford, who was also in the dark, at first felt he had to back the move.

“Well, you know something, it’s a convention, and I’m out in the media almost every second day, and we’ll chat, but this is a party convention,” the premier said in Ottawa at a Council of the Federation meeting Wednesday. 

“So we’re going to keep it as a party convention, but I’m always open to sit down and chat with you folks anytime you want,” he said.

Still, the ban was a minor embarrassment to Ford’s party since the federal Conservatives held their convention on the same weekend and garnered significant media coverage when Pierre Poilievre received 87.4 per cent support in a leadership review.

In contrast to Poilievre, who pointedly did not mention Trump by name in his nationally televised speech Friday night from Calgary, Ford stuck to the message that helped him get re-elected last Feb. 27, expressing concern about the trade war with the U.S. that has battered Ontario’s auto and steel industries.

“Despite President Trump’s tariffs and threats we are building a province that is more resilient, self-reliant and competitive than ever before,” he said, touting his efforts with Prime Minister Mark Carney and the other premiers to diversify trade.

“We are working as part of a strong, united Team Canada to stand up to President Trump, protect Ontario and protect the true north strong and free.”

The premier also said he was “proud” of a caucus that includes MPPs of Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Tamil, Jewish, Jamaican, Iranian, Korean, Chinese, Somalian, Armenian, Polish, Ukrainian, Greek, Egyptian and Italian heritage.

“Our PC Party is the only party in Ontario that truly reflects every part of this province and I see that in the incredible crowd we have here tonight,” he said.

“From cities and downtowns to rural areas and small towns, from Thunder Bay and Kenora and Timmins to Windsor and London, Hamilton and Niagara, Toronto and Ottawa and everywhere in between. People from all the languages, cultures, religions and backgrounds that make up our great province.”

Tories paid $99 for youth members and $299 for adults while “non-member observers” from rival parties were charged $1,000 to enter.

Dinner attendees paid $250. Journalists were not charged for entry to the dinner, but there was no meal service for them.