Ford promises a thriving business sector in London, rural Ontario

Ontario PC leader Doug Ford fuelled a loud crowd in London on Monday with a promise of a booming business sector comingto the city and thesurroundingrural areas.

More than 500 people filled a room that seats400 at the Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn to listen to the newly elected leader, who ismaking his rounds on the campaign trail.

Many supportersheld signs and some even sported hats that read 'Make Ontario Great Again'.

The Toronto businessman saidone of his priorities is tobringmore jobs to southwestern Ontario.

• Conservative leader Doug Ford campaigning in London today

"My message is connecting more in rural Ontario ... They're looking at jobs. They want jobs We have to attract businesses," he said. "We have to be competitive against everywhere in the world and we will be."

The mayor of Strathroy-Caradoc, Joanne Vanderheyden, sat among the sea of people.She said Ford's start in municipal politics has instilledin her hope that some of his focus will remain on local communities.

"[Small communities] also have an opportunity to help the province," she said. "We don't need the world but we need a hand up once in a while so we can get where we need to go without tons of red tape."

Ford also touched on campaign points such as long hospital wait times,inflated hydro bills and provincial education standards.

He said the province needs to be more transparentabout these issues,which is why he's also committed to open phone lines.

With the provincialbudget set for Wednesday, Ford said, if elected, he won't cut any provincial jobs, including in the health care sector.

That's something the governing Liberals question. Theyclaim thousands of jobs are at risk if he wins the June election.