Doug Ford says he was on the phone "every day" to ensure that Ottawa had the resources it needed. The Progressive Conservative Party leader visited Ottawa on Monday, nine days after the powerful and deadly storm left tens of thousands of people without power.

He faced questions from reporters about why he did not visit the capital immediately after the storm. He said, "I was talking on the phone every day to make sure it got the resources it needed to face the disaster." "I'm not here to take a photo like other politicians."

Ford said the executives of Hydro One and Hydro Ottawa heard from him about his concern for the region’s conditions alongside the Mayor of Ottawa and other local officials.

He said, "I just want to make one thing clear: I will always have the support of the people in Ottawa." Ford was speaking with MPP Jeremy Roberts on the rooftop of the "Ottawa Citizen" building on "Baxter" Road overlooking the "Queensway." He was announcing a plan to expand Highway 417, which had been previously announced earlier this year.

This is the first visit of the Communist Party leader to Ottawa during the election campaign with elections approaching on Thursday. NDP leader Andrea Horwath will be on standby later Monday as the local election campaign comes to an end.