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Premier Doug Ford, who had publicly blasted Poilievre for not using the Progressive Conservatives’ road map to re-election in the Feb. 27 provincial vote, was under attack early Tuesday.

While the premier refused to take the bait, there was bitterness from the federal Tories. 

“He couldn’t stay out of our business, always getting his criticisms and all his opinions out, distracting our campaign, trying to make it about him, trying to position himself as some kind of political genius that we needed to be taking cues from,” a furious Tory MP Jamil Jivani (Bowmanville-Oshawa North) told CBC’s David Common in a candid interview.

“I see Doug Ford as a problem for Ontario and for Canada,” said Jivani, who once worked as an aide in the premier’s office at Queen’s Park.

“He’s not doing a great job in running this province, and now he’s trying to exercise his influence over other levels of government and it’s not like this guy is doing anything particularly well,” he said after telling supporters in Durham that Ford “sabotaged” the federal party.

“I’m speaking from experience. I tried to fix problems in this province, and he kept getting in his way, and all his goons around him all the time, they wouldn’t make anything better.”

Jivani, who is close to Poilievre and would likely have been a cabinet minister in a Tory government, said Ford was a “hype man” for the Liberals.

“He has taken the provincial Conservative party and turned it into something hollow, unprincipled, something that doesn’t solve problems. He’s glad-handing with (Transport Minister) Chrystia Freeland, having coffees and lattes with Mark Carney.”

Jivani has not been shy about claims Ford and his team are not real conservatives.

When he won a byelection last March, he derided the provincial Ministry of Education and minister Stephen Lecce as “liberal elites.”

Ford shrugged off Jivani’s salvo. 

“I’m not worried about that,” he told reporters at the legislature. “I’m focusing on unity.”

The premier said it’s up to Poilievre whether he can stay on as federal Conservative leader — and insisted he has no interest in the job.

On Carney’s win, Ford said the re-elected Liberals must get moving quickly on infrastructure and reducing interprovincial trade barriers and, amid recriminations, he appealed for unity against Trump.

“I encourage all parties to work together for the common good,” the premier said, warning the president will exploit divisions.

“He sees weakness anywhere he’s gonna latch on it. And that’s the last thing we want to show President Trump, any weakness.”

In a statement earlier Tuesday, Ford congratulated Carney and said they would “work well” together.    

“I also want to thank Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh and every candidate who put their name on a ballot for their service to our democracy,” the premier said.

“This election comes at a crucial time for Ontario and for Canada. Workers, families and businesses are navigating the economic uncertainty caused by President Trump’s tariffs and they are counting on all levels of government to work together to protect Canada,” he said.

During the election, Ford had expressed astonishment that Poilievre’s campaign did not follow his playbook and make the election a referendum on Trump’s trade war with Canada.

“Sometimes the truth hurts,” the premier said two weeks ago when defending his political czar Kory Teneycke’s comment that the federal Conservatives were guilty of “campaign malpractice” for failing to recognize Trump as the ballot question.

The Star revealed last month that Poilievre finally reached out to Ford for the first time on March 17 for a strained phone call some two and a half years after he became federal leader.

In contrast, before even being sworn in as prime minister.

Sources said the two leaders were in constant communication throughout the campaign, discussing the Trump threat and other issues of common interest.

While Ford insisted he was “staying out of” the federal election, he repeatedly made headlines during the campaign.

In an interview published Sunday with Politico, he was asked why Poilievre hadn’t made an effort to call him earlier.

“You’re going to have to ask him that. But I think it’s common sense when you’re in an election, you reach across to as many people as you can,” said the premier, pointing out the federal Tory leader also has no relationship with Nova Scotia PC Premier Tim Houston.

“Not at all. Or local mayors. Or anyone. I don’t understand it,” said Ford, adding Poilievre had to be forced to phone him on the eve of the federal election call.

“That’s exactly what happened,” said the premier.

The defeat of Poilievre, a 21-year MP, in Carleton tarnished an otherwise solid showing for the Tories in Ontario.

They won or were leading in 53 of the province’s 122 seats on Tuesday to 69 for the Liberals. The New Democrats were wiped out in Ontario.

Carney’s Grits received 48.8 per cent of the popular vote here to 44 per cent for Poilievre’s Tories and 4.9 per cent for Jagmeet Singh’s NDP.