With Eric Lombardi throwing his support behind Lee Fairclough, the former federal cabinet minister is leaning on his economic credentials and grassroots organizing efforts as the party prepares to choose its next leader.

Lombardi is the second officially approved candidate to leave the leadership contest. Ajax MPP Rob Cerjanec withdrew in July.

Only $140 million has been approved through the Ford government's flagship tariff-relief financing program, raising questions about how much of its multibillion-dollar promise to protect Ontario businesses has translated into direct financial assistance.

All five candidates, Navdeep Bains, Stephanie Bowman, Lee Fairclough, Eric Lombardi and Dylan Marando, were asked about mandatory treatment during the second debate of the race, a 90-minute event moderated by CTV Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Siobhan Morris.

Bains, a former federal cabinet minister, is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race, which will conclude in November and comes as the governing PCs have seen some of their weakest poll numbers in recent years.