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Ahead of byelections, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says voting Liberal is akin to giving a bank robber another gun

There's an unwritten rule in politics, that despite differences in ideologies, you don't slam other levels of government.

After all, conventional wisdom suggests that to work with these people, you need to have good relationships with them.

Well no one ever accused Toronto Mayor Rob Ford of being conventional.

On Tuesday, while campaigning on behalf Scarborough Progressive Conservative candidate Ken Kirupa — ahead of five provincial byelections on Thursday — Ford called Kathleen Wynne's Liberals a "corrupt government."

"If you say you want to go and vote Liberal, then you’re basically just giving a bank robber another gun and say[ing] go rob another bank," he said according to the National Post.

"That’s what it comes down to."

Not surprisingly, according to the Toronto Star, the Liberals weren't very pleased with Ford's comments.

Liberal party insiders voiced astonishment over the “insensitivity” of Ford’s remarks about guns given Scarborough-Guildwood recently recognized the one-year anniversary of the shocking multiple shooting in the Danzig community.

Reacting to Ford’s comments, Wynne’s team said “this is another example of the divisive style of politics that the Ford-Hudak PC’s practice.

[ Related: Ontario Liberals face tough challenge with impending by-elections ]

Ford was just the latest politico to make his presence felt in the Scarborough election.

All party leaders have made the riding a focus with polls showing a close race with Liberal candidate Mitzi Hunter pegged at 38 per cent support, followed by Kirupa at 32 per cent. Former Toronto mayoralty candidate Adam Giambrone trails with only 21 per cent support.

Scarborough could very well be the epicenter of Thursday's byelections.

What happens there will invariably make waves at Queen's Park immediately and could be a preview of what's to come in the next general election.

"More than any of the five ridings up for grabs in Thursday’s by-elections, Scarborough-Guildwood is a must-win for Premier Kathleen Wynne," notes a Globe and Mail article.

"Losing could spell disaster for the Liberals in the next general election. Conversely, it is absolutely crucial the Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats make inroads in places like this if they hope to leave the opposition benches."

[ Related: New emails reveal how Dalton McGuinty’s aides tried to pressure Speaker over damaging gas plant ruling ]

Collectively, Thursday's byelections — like all byelections, anywhere at any level of government — are considered a gauge of the sitting government's popularity.

Even without Ford's jab, however, Thursday could be a tough day for the Grits.

Byelection round-up:

1. Etobicoke-Lakeshore:

- Incumbent: Laurel Broten (Lib)

- Results from last election: Lib: 50.8 per cent; PC: 29.2 per cent; NDP: 15.6 per cent

- *Latest poll: Doug Holyday (PC): 47 per cent; Peter Milczyn (Lib): 40 per cent

2. Scarborough-Guildwood

- Incumbent: Margarett Best (Lib)

- Results from last election: Lib: 48.9 per cent; PC: 28.6 per cent; NDP: 19.4 per cent

- Latest poll: Mitzi Hunter (Lib): 38 per cent; Ken Kirupa (PC): 32 per cent; Adam Giambrone (NDP): 21 per cent

3. Ottawa South

- Incumbent: Dalton McGuinty (Lib)

- Results from last election: Lib: 48.9 per cent; PC: 33.4 per cent; NDP: 13.4 per cent

- Latest poll: Matt Young (PC): 48 per cent; John Fraser (Lib): 34 per cent; Bronwyn Funiciello (NDP): 12 per cent

4. London West

- Incumbent: Chris Bentley (Lib)

- Results from last election: Lib: 45.7 per cent; PC: 29.5 per cent; NDP: 21.7 per cent

- Latest poll: Ali Chahbar (PC): 36 per cent; Peggy Sattler (NDP): 31 per cent; Ken Coran (Lib): 17 per cent

5. Windsor-Tecumseh

- Incumbent: Dwight Duncan (Lib)

- Results from last election: Lib: 42.8 per cent; NDP: 32.8 per cent; PC: 20.8 per cent

- Latest poll: Percy Hatfield (NDP): 55 per cent; Robert de Verteuil (PC): 20 per cent; Jeewen Gill (Lib): 15 per cent

* All polls were conducted by Forum Research

(Photo courtesy of Reuters)

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