Stakes high for Hudak at Ontario PC convention
Posted September 20, 2013 11:42 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ontario Progressive Leader Tim Hudak has shrugged off a possible challenge to his leadership as the party gets ready to meet at its policy conference in London, Ont., this weekend.
The event gets underway Friday night, and party members will be working on a policy platform that can take them into the next provincial election.
For Hudak, it’s a chance to do a little fence-mending and convince his party he has what it takes to win an election.
There’s been dissension in the ranks for months, with some Tories upset the party took only one of the five byelections in August.
Some Tories have moved a motion to alter the party’s constitution at their meeting to allow for a review of Hudak’s leadership.
However, his supporters said it’s time to focus on getting the party election ready.
At a news conference at Sherbourne Common Park in Toronto on Friday, Hudak predicted that the possible leadership challenge will be a “footnote in the history of the party.”
“We had a choice as a party to come together and show that bold Conservative plan that’s going to get Ontario moving again. If others choose not to do that choice, then that’s their choice. I’m here to lead,” Hudak said.
Newly-elected Tory MPP Doug Holyday, who has been by the PC leader’s side for just about every public appearance he’s made over the past couple of weeks, was also at Friday’s news conference.
“There might be a couple of people, or a few people in one part of the province that have for whatever reasons their own thoughts on the matter, but we’ll deal with that this weekend,” Holyday said.
Hudak garnered 78 per cent support in the last review of his leadership after the party lost the 2011 election.
680News spoke with Coun. Doug Ford — who hasn’t ruled out running for the provincial Tories — about the convention and why some members of caucus are out for Hudak.
“I’m not too sure — everyone has their own political agenda … hopefully, he’ll be the next premier,” Coun. Ford said Friday morning via phone.
Meanwhile, the Liberals are having some fun with the situation, producing large buttons with sayings such as “Et Tu Frank” — referring to MPP Frank Klees who originally pushed for the review.
There’s also “Draft Randy Hillier” and “Shurman for Leader” buttons.
Hillier and Shurman were recently kicked out of Hudak’s shadow cabinet.
Click here for more information on the convention, which runs until Sunday.
