I haven’t highlighted the Ontario PC leadership race much on this blog, mainly because I was in a quandary over who would be the best choice between the two front runners.
However, I’m still leaning towards Tim Hudak based on his stand regarding the OHRC. Monte Solberg has weighed into this debate recently, even though he doesn’t ‘have a dog in this fight’. In his next post he clarifies Hudak’s position which he says is ‘to dump the tribunals and replace it with a less bureaucratic court type system based on law, not on the whim of some nutty HR Commissioner.’ Classic Monte.
Today’s National Post contains an article on how this particular issue is being the main focus – Ontario PC leadership race centres on rights tribunal.
Christine Elliott has come out against Hudak’s plan because she fears it would be a contentious election issue:
…Ms. Elliott said a decision to abolish the tribunal would be akin to John Tory’s proposition to support public funding for private religious schools, which dominated the 2007 provincial election and ultimately harmed the PC Party.
“It would hand the Liberals the election on a silver platter,” Ms. Elliott said…
Well, I suppose that’s a concern worth considering and I have no doubt the Liberal war room would go as low as was required to churn out the propaganda. However, I don’t think this is the equivalent of the FBF issue at all. The latter pitted strong religious/secular emotions against each other.
The HRC issue is one that every Canadian needs to become informed of and get involved in. The best place to start is by reading Ezra Levant’s “Shake Down”.
Ezra talks about the Ted Kindos debacle and begins with this paragraph:
Human rights commissions don’t just go after the big fish – multinational such as McDonald’s or government agencies such as the RCMP, which can afford lengthy legal fights and ex-figure fines. Those are the case we hear about, because respondents with deep pockets have the ability to fight back. But most human rights complaints – more than 90 per cent – never make it to a hearing, because the targets collapse under the cost of defending themselves, not to mention the stress.
That’s exactly what happened to Ted Kindos, the proprietor of Gator Ted’s, a pub in Burlington, Ontario…”
Tim focused on that story back in February. Freedom Through Truth has the latest.
Also please check out Stephen Taylor’s interview with Hudak where he discusses his ideas about how to safeguard rights for everyone, by creating a responsible court-based system.
There comes a time when we all have to take a stand. We cannot afford to run and hide the way Christine Elliott suggests.
O.K. I just convinced myself - I’m throwing my support as a conservative blogger to Tim Hudak.
Fight the good fight, Tim!
* * * *
Update: Focus Ontario had Hillier and Klees on last week (available online), and is scheduled to have Hudak and Elliott on this week.
And in comments, Paulsstuff may have caused me to change my mind on the way the OHRC issue should be handled.
Darryl’s a big Frank Klees supporter. Check out the video. He’s good too. Oh boy, now I’m really confused.
* * * *
Sunday Update: Since we’re talking about defending our rights here among other things, please check out Wintery Knight who has some Steyn and Levant clips posted.
Elliot sounds like a red Tory, or she has her head in the sand.Has she totally missed the events of the last year with Steyn and Levant?
Good for Monte for bringing this out to be an all-Canada issue, and good for Tim Hudak.
Well, Joanne, I dont “have a dog in the fight” either, since I live in B.C.
I do have many family members in Ontario though and i visit there frequently. (now that I think of it, I dont know if that means anything, lol)
I dont have any opinion at all about who is the best candidate.
One note of caution however.
It would be a serious mistake to boil the selection down to one single issue.
I know the HRC issue is a big one, but surely there are other big issues that need to be examined. Your present Government has provided a lot of ammunition
When the Provincial election comes there has to be more on the table than that single issue.
Much more.
Conventional wisdom has it that the last election was lost because of the focus on one issue to the exclusion of everything else.
Ontario has far bigger fishes to fry than the HRC’s. I’m sure the Liberals hope that you guys continue to obsess over this nonsense.
Please show me even one instance where the HRC has ever infringed upon your life in any conceivable way.
Ontario has far bigger fishes to fry than the HRC’s.
Louise, Ted Kindos is an example of the Ontario Everyman – a small business owner just trying to get by. And this HRC nonsense is threatening his livelihood.
o/t
got a busy day ahead, so want to make sure the new Nanos poll is not spun out as a Lib sure thing to a win.
http://www.nanosresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S09-T376E.pdf
Cons numbers have not moved except in Ontario,
Cons dropped 5 points that went to the DIPPERS & Greens, Libs down 1 point!!
(the truth ads are working)
Lib lead is all about Quebec.
Lee…you are right about the ‘one issue’ advice.However,the last Ontario election was lost because the media focused on one issue, and the weak PC party wasted time trying to explain it to the media. Voters were interested in many other issues and the candidates lost touch.High taxes and Mcguinty’s record as a boldfaced liar( can I say that here Joanne?) were never discussed.
Hudak,or whoever is chosen to head the PC party, will be wise to not allow that to happen again.
“Please show me even one instance where the HRC has ever infringed upon your life in any conceivable way.”
Louise,
My wife, an Occupational Health Nurse, was brought before an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal because a worker wasn’t happy with the jobs being offered to her after an injury rendered her unable to do the work she had been hired to do.
Close enough??
NeilD
Hudak is the best choice. There has been a lot od discussion of policy in this race. Elliot brought up a flat tax. I think that would be wonderful.
The hrc must be eliminated it is a force against liberty.
So Premier Hudak with Elliot as finance minister is what I want to see!
Neil, that is shocking. How did things work out?
This sounds vaguely familiar. Maybe you told us about it before but I’d sure appreciate an update. Thanks.
This will just end up being John Tory redux. Rather than waste their time arguing about this they should be fixated on things most Ontarian’s think about daily, like the economy and health care.
While the HRC is an important issue, it should be paid minimal lip service. The correct way to handle this would be to say that all candidates feel that the current system is seriously flawed, and that if elected the party would undertake a major review of the system in place and make the proper changes.
By doing this, you take the stick out of your opponents hand. If they demand what changes you will make, you simply point out that decisions will be made after a major review, and you can’t make deciions before having all the facts.
Politics 101. Tory’s gone, but I get the feeling some have remained who shouldn’t have.
why does Nanos even put out a poll like that?
Atlantic Canada margin of error 10%, Ontario and Quebec 6%
The correct way to handle this would be to say that all candidates feel that the current system is seriously flawed, and that if elected the party would undertake a major review of the system in place and make the proper changes…
Actually, I have to say that I agree with that.
O.K. then. Who do you feel is the best candidate regarding the economy and health care, Paul?
Like Lee, I live in BC and I agree with everything she says. (Must be something about the air out here that makes us so smart, or maybe it’s just 3,000 miles of perspective).
One thing McGuinty is very good at is campaigning, and if the new Tory leader gives him a one-issue campaign to work with, it will be game over yet again.
It really doesn’t matter that doing something about HRC is the right thing to do, and it doesn’t matter how many sad cases you can find to support this view, it’s simply a question of framing the issue. Tories are seen as generally luke-warm to human rights issues, so any attempt to shut down the HRC will be painted as an attempt to cut off everyone’s human rights.
If you are the Opposition, you should be able to attack the Government on a wide range of issues (and with McGuinty you have lots of choice), so to try and make this a one-issue campaign is a huge mistake.
As a comparison, look at the Green Party. How many voters have any idea of their policies, outside of the environment issue ? And doesn’t that just explain why they are always last ?
I think Hudac is my choice Joanne. Well spoken, little baggage, been around long enough to understand the issues.
Elliot reminds me a little to much like Iggy at the 2006 Liberal leadership race. Not worried about damaging the party if it means getting himself elected leader.
Don’t forget a large reason for the 2008 election win by the PM was by using Iggy’s own words against the Liberal party. The Ontario PC’s need to be looking at the bigger picture.
Yes, they are electing a new leader, but they should be electing a leader and laying the groundwork to win the next election, not electing a new leader and digging the hole deeper they already are standing in.
Idea: The next OPC government could get unemployed engineers to work designing the world’s best high speed freight and passenger rail lines–rails and equipment. Then, convert some idle auto plants to their production. Ontario can become a world leader in urban and transcontinental rail transit–economical, fast, safe. Airliners use too much fuel and airports are too expensive. The right-of-ways already exist. Just do it.
I agree with Paul # 10…HRC as a ballot box issue, beyond a promise to review, would be a mistake. I also like Elliot’s flat tax proposal and hope that if it can gain traction and implementation in ontario that it will eventually be implemented federally as well.
I have no dog in this hunt either, both would be strong choices, but from my perspective Elliot will resonate with ontario voters better and have a greater chance of forming government.
The natural end result of political correctness*.
…-
“Edmonton’s top cop bans swearing”
urlm.in/cokg
…-
*Schiller Institute—THE NEW DARK AGE The Frankfurt School and …
THE NEW DARK AGE The Frankfurt School and “Political Correctness” … have become overwhelmed by Comintern-style New Age “Political Correctness. …
http://www.schillerinstitute.org/fid_91-96/921_frankfurt.html
…-
Randy Hillier for Ontario.
“”I don’t believe you can reform something so broken and so corrupted in its process and its outcomes,”"
Randy understands: judge policy by its end results/outcomes; not by its good intentions.
…-
“Eliminate rights bodies, PC leadership hopeful says
Ontario should eliminate its human rights commissions and tribunals, according to Randy Hillier, one of four candidates vying for the leadership of the province’s Progressive Conservatives.
“I don’t believe you can reform something so broken and so corrupted in its process and its outcomes,” Mr. Hillier said yesterday during a meeting with the National Post editorial board. He argued issues currently addressed by commissions and tribunals should be handled by the traditional court system. “Real human rights are so important and inviolable that they should be protected by our courts by real justices, with due process of law.”"
http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=1570614
Something just occurred to me.
How is it that we have candidates belonging to the same political party with such disparate views?
Wouldnt you think there should be some commonality of ideas, platforms, and policies?
The decision then would have to be who is best equipped to promote and enact these ideas, platforms and policies.
Out of the blue comes an idea to modify the HRC.
Out of the blue comes the flat tax.
And on and on.
The end result is that the ordinary voter does not know exactly what the party stands for. Thus what you get is the voters concentrating on the leader, since it seems the leader is the only one who decides what the policy will be.
Shouldnt the public feel confident that no matter who the leader is, they have at least an inkling of what the program will be if they vote Conservative?
It definitely should NOT be the main issue in this race….period.
What with the newest e-health scandal and all of the crap we’ve had to face as a province at the hands of McGuinty, who has lapped Bob Rae re: deficits and putting our province in the “have not” category.
If the next election is based on human rights it’s going to help Ignatieff raise his profile on the national stage…after all isn’t he the “expert” windsock on human rights?
I think both Elliott and Hudak are right.
What we DON’T need is any fodder that would allow the McGuinty war room to divide and conquer…and I’m pretty sure the Human Rights issue…as important as it could be just isn’t on my top 5 list of issues for Ontario at the moment.
Let’s get McGuinty the hell out of office first…and then have some unified and thoughtful discussion on the issue.
the only issue should be who can beat McGuinty.
The answer becomes much clearer when you think of motivating an audience, or rallying excitement…..and youth.
If unification of the red and blue Ont. PCs to something close to purple doesn’t happen…McGuinty will win…again.
Darcy, I agree that a flat tax is a great idea, and would support it at the federal level as well. The problem is it’s just as much political kryptonite as is the HRC.
The idea for a flat tax was floated before, most notably by the Reform party. Liberal’s, Bloc, and most notably the NDP were quick to condemn it, with the tired argument it would hurt the poor and benefit the rich.
The fact is, a great number of Cnadian’s earning in excess of $100,000 pay no tax due to loopholes and being able to take advantage of tax write-offs. A flat tax would actually have them paying more taxes.
A perfect example would be Paul Martin and Frank Stronach, who both use tax loopholes to avoid paying taxes.
But you will never see that reported.
Really good debate going here and once again I’m reconsidering my opinion based on what Paulsstuff and CC and a few other have said.
I really like what Paul said here:
If they demand what changes you will make, you simply point out that decisions will be made after a major review, and you can’t make decisions before having all the facts.
That is quite brilliant and is certainly one of the lessons learned coming out of the JT fiasco.
I hope some folks from the leadership campaigns are reading this.
The OHRC needs to be looked at and possibly reformed but let’s not make it the main issue.
Let’s focus on health and the economy.
Perhaps Paul, but moving towards tax equity may also promote more compliance. Instead of penalizing high earners and profitability, and have people purposefully sheltering income to maintain a “bracket”, even the playing field. The current penalty system to earnings drives people to other jurisdictions and high earners will just move to calgary or the US instead of remaining and doing business in Ontario. It certainly can’t be the only issue, or perhaps even the major issue, but if framed as a matter of fairness and competitive advantage Ontario may be more inclined to support the reform.
As I said in my last post I think Elliot, beyond her tax reform idea, will resonate best with voters and stand the best chance of electability.
I suppose my reasoning follows that of CC in post #20, and I think Elliot can appeal to both camps. Again, with a grain of salt from my limited Saskatoon perspective.
cheers.
The Oct 2011 election is 2 years away, and the recession should be over by then. I think that all of the candidates are in favour of lower taxes, and the means (flat tax, lower rates, etc) is not important. The HRC issue is very important because it’s our personal rights and freedoms at stake. The HRC’s don’t protect real human rights, but fake human rights. Like Joanne says, if you consider yourself a conservative, you need to read Shakedown to see how bad it is. I agree that Hudak is the man who can beat McGuinty.
Further to what I said Joanne, what they should be trying to achieve is reach out to the Conservative base, most notably the ones who never turned out to vote last election. By using the strategy I mentioned, you let your supporters know that you are aware of the problem and will fix it, the HRC for example, and at the same time temper any attacks the other parties may try to throw your way via comments made during the leadership convention.
In the instance of the flat tax, rather than Elliot setting that in stone as one of her planks, she would have been better served to state that under McGuinty, the province’s finances are in a mess, and that as leader she would be prepared to consider how to improve the system, making taxation fair to everyone while also helping the provinces revenue flow, including a flat tax.
Most people don’t understand the premise of a flat tax, and assume that low and middle clas earners will pay the same, and the rich will pay less, because that is always the argument used by those opposed.
Don’t forget that what the new leader will need big time is to re-engage those who felt alienated by the whole JT thing.
AND, a chance for those folks, united in seeing McGuinty sent packing totally on-side where policy is concerned, because often the best movers and advertisements for policy and candidate at election time comes from the discussions grassroot Ontarians are having over their back fench and on blogs like this one.
Darcy at #20.
I agree completely. A flat tax would actually lower taxes as it stands now, by forcing those avoiding to pay their fair share.
Elliot lives next to my riding here in Ajax. I have quite a bit of respect for her. She is quite an excellant speaker in public, and did great in the provincial candidate debates.
My point is not to dismiss her as a potential leader, but rather point out all candidates should be aware of the final goal, winning the next election. Tact and strategy need to be employed during the course of the leadership race. Get your ideas out in a way that appeals to the grassroots of the party, while at the same time not damaging your electoral chances in the next election.
And above all, avoid comments like “we didn’t get it done”.
I just took off CM for a while because the ideas here are so good and I don’t want to stop the flow.
I see that Paul & CC had similar ideas at #25 and #26. You both have excellent political instincts.
Paulsstuff, your comments here today are pure gold. Perhaps you’d consider consolidating them in a future post?
I think you’re making a big mistake Joanne! Though I’m no fan of Elliott either, she is 100% right that this would be a contentious election issue. You think the OHRC and Barbara Hall are going to go down without a fight? I’m no fan of Hall or the OHRC, but this coupled with his speech to the Economic Club of Canada where he said that McGuinty should immediately sit down with all public sector unions to renegotiate more affordable collective agreements, makes me shake my head and wonder if the guy learned anything during the last election (or the Harris years, . . . or even the Rae years . . .) These sort of things play well to the conservative base but will fail miserably in a general election.
Full disclosure: Klees is my MPP and my vote for leader & Premier. Why? He was a businessman before entering politics and that’s exactly the kind of experience needed right now to get our province back on track – not someone who’s been an MPP since he was 27. Everyone who’s heard him speak always remarks he has that ‘statesman’ quality. And before anyone asks, no, he had nothing to do with the ‘faith-based funding’ debacle:
http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/268436
That’s a fair comment, Melanie. We shouldn’t count Klees out of the game yet.
For anyone who’s interested, Stephen Taylor’s interview with Frank Klees is here.
“Paulsstuff, your comments here today are pure gold. Perhaps you’d consider consolidating them in a future post?”
Thanks Joanne. I might do a post on it tommorrow. I need to research all the candidates and their platforms to do a fair comparison.
But I do think since Harris left the strategists of the party have not done a very good job. As a political party you need to focus on the present and the future. A major part of that is assessing where your weaknesses could be in the future, and do what you can in the present to limit whatever damage may arise.
At the same time you must use the present to strengthen your position for the future. That’s what the opposition parties are doing in Ottawa, using the recession to their advantage. Here in Ontario, in a leadership race and with the province just announcing an $18 billion deficit, headlines from the leadership race focus on things like the HRC.
Just seems like a wasted opportunity to me. All the candidates could be getting more time in the media by focusing on the major issues. People understand a recession, job losses, healthcare, education. All those things have hit Ontario harder than anywhere else in Canada. They should be using that to let voters know there is another choice that could do a far better job on those issues come next election.
I’m having great difficulty choosing this time around. I’d never choose over one issue though.
Although I don’t like Elliot’s stand on the HRC’s I am leaning more in her direction.
It’s sort of a shoo-in scenario with Hudak from the beginning, perhaps because he was first off the mark.
I do think Frank Klees would be quite capable but he’s been given a thumbs down from the start and that’s not a fair shake, IMO. Saying things like “why is he even running”? is hardly playing fair.
Let’s assume none will be taking endorsements from JT!
Gotta run out for awhile. Great comments here. I’ll check back later.
Any reference to JT will be avoided, to the benefit of conservatives in Ontario.
And did I read that Mike Harris is backing Tim Hudak? This could be CSR #2!
Paulsstuff @#31 – All excellent points.
CSR #2, Bluetech? What’s that?
sry
“Common Sense Revolution”
Yey!!!!
From what I’ve seen and read, Tim Hudak seems like a very good choice for leader, although I do like Randy Hillier as well, I don’t think he’d appeal to mainstream voters. He might make an excellent Premier in Alberta, lol.
Here’s the thing: I think Elliott might be right. The Liberals would do everything to scare voters into some idea that Conservatives are against “human rights” and all sorts of stuff and nonsense like that.
No, elections are not the time to inform the people of controversial changes. Take a page from the Dalton McLiar handbook, and simply make a unilateral decision after the majority.
“I won’t raise your taxes”… BAM, new tax.
So the PC’s should run a campaign on broad-based conservative issues without going too much into the HRCs. Focus on the corruption [eHealth], lies, incompetence, etc etc. When you get your majority you eliminate the HRCs immediately.
Good points Raph.
“…elections are not the time to inform the people of controversial changes.”
Just how long does it take for people to get informed about controversial changes and how does it happen with a lax MSM?
The fact remains that MSM will not cover the HRC mess, and expose Levant’s and Steyn’s experiences.As usual only those on the net are informed.
The fact that Harris is endorsing Hudak should be good enough for every Tory in Ontario. He is the best Ontario Premier since Leslie Frost.
My beef is that the process is ridiculous. An old time delegated convention is the best way to re-energize the pary and wash out the failures like the Tory handlers. Put up the policy planks and vote on them. Find out face to face who is supportng who and eliminate the losers. This present process generates lttle enthusiasm and does little to develop an election platform supported by the base. The deals that are made on later ballots are the glue that keeps the Party united.
Yeah, focus on lies, with McGuinty, what’s left?
If anyone needs to see what focusing on one issue will get you, it’ll get you elected in Ontario!
McGuinty made a big batch of promises to get elected the first time, broke every one then got re-elected to another majority over one issue.
“I will not raise your taxes” was struck form memory.
Seems lying is not taken seriously in Ontario.
Liz J,
People respond better to fear than they do anything else. The Liberals were the prime favourites to lose the 2007 election, or at least be reduced to a minority. The only way they managed to win was to turn the election into one issue, and the more Tory defended himself the more the Liberals deflected all the lies and abuses of Ontario since 2003. It was horrific to watch.
I think it’s too close to call at the moment, AND, I honestly don’t think it’s a Hudak shoe-in either.
I had a direct correspondence from both Klees and Hillier regarding an email note with questions on issues I sent to all four candidates. Nothing from the Hudak or Elliott camps.
Klees answered himself….I was really impressed with that, while Hillier had his assistant reply, at least my letter and questions went acknowledged.
Those things matter to me. It shows me how responsive to a grass-root supporter candidates are, and if when elected they’ll be inclined to forget me…or anyone else who takes time to write them.
I thought I knew who I was going to support but that’s changed because it’s those little things that matter to me. I don’t want an unresponsive leader who takes the ground support for granted.
Look where that’s gotten the federal Liberal support base.
I think that Hillier will bring the rural/small town Ontario vote.
There’s also a bit more strategy involved in my vote this time, where the 2nd choice is just as crucial as the first choice.
As I say, I’m re-thinking things. If the closer election day gets and the further away the leader becomes….that’s a red flag for me.
p.s. – I think WK seems most afraid of a Hudak/Hillier team.
That’s worth noting only because I speculate that “da Prince” has been doing his oppo. homework….quietly since that last provincial election and oppo./spin is what won the day for Dalton…in the ed.
“Common Sense Revolution”
Yey!!!!
Oh yeah. Thanks Bluetech!
[...] to Paul for his comments about the margin for error in recent polls. Posted in canada. Tags: federal polling, Ipsos Reid, [...]
People respond better to fear than they do anything else.
That’s true Raphael. Certainly it worked in the last election.
“People respond better to fear than they do anything else”.
Sorry Raphael,Joanne – I don’t agree.
“Fear” didn’t win McGuinty the last election…lies and spin based on myths did.
It was a fake “fear”…couple that with the other screw-ups and I just don’t agree with that sweeping statement.
If anything it’s the McGuinty government record that Ontarians need fear…because it speaks for itself.
Also, if the Tory’s campaign on fear next election…..they’ll lose.
My response to a party that runs a campaign of fear is to freeze up…stop all support and stay home on election day.
Randy Hillier set the bar, the others just limbo.
Why is Tim given any credit for dismantling the HRC, when it was Randy that first proposed to get rid of the HRC.
We can see the bias of the party and the media, completely ignoring Randy.
Better watch it when Randy puts forth recall , let see the others dance.
Anyone have info as to whom Nepean MPP Lisa Macleod is supporting?
http://www.lisamacleod.com/index.php/about
“Fear” didn’t win McGuinty the last election…lies and spin based on myths did.
O.K. Let’s say that the ‘fear’ was the result of the lies and spin.
Simeon, to be fair, I haven’t really heard much from Randy. I did notice in the link that I posted to the National Post that there are several more events and debates coming up. I promise to pay attention.
The Ontario PC leaders needs to be a Harris-style Tory. I don’t give a damn about the HRC’s, other than to dismantle them, and send any complaints to the usual court system. Hudak beware.
The harmonization of sales taxes is a good idea for small businesses, despite being suggested by McG., it’s a conservative approach (oddly and reflexively being dismissed by all conservative candidates, stupid..stupid..stupid). At least suggest an alternative. Who likes taxes? Does it make sense to harmonize? Yes. Drop the tax on a few specific things to keep it revenue neutral, forget about rebate cheques.
“Fear” didn’t win McGuinty the last election…lies and spin based on myths did.
The last election was one by a single big mistake. John Tory decided to run on the issue of religious education funding, an issue on which most of his conservative core disagreed. Despite pre-election polling that suggested it was monumentally idiotic, he persisted with it during the election, until the last minute.
Pretty simple to determine why he lost. McG. really didn’t have to lift a finger.
Polls were showing a likely PC majority, at worst a majority, in the Spring before the election.
Wk and the Liberal spin pushed the intollerance and hypocrite buttons in voters…not fear.
While Dalton’s family had the means to choose based on religion the campaign smacked of all kinds of hypocrisy as well.
Whatever though, it’s not at play this time around for our part, but whenever the Liberal war room gets that opportunity they’re going to try and make it stick to other issues.
Joanne,
She and the hospital lost their case but they went out to celebrate anyway and my wife had a smile on her face for a week after. One of the conditions when they settled was that the injured party tender her resignation and the hospital staff was happy to be rid of her.
This woman and her belligerent union husband were giving everybody ulcers and taking up way too much of hospital staffs time to the detriment of others.
There was a confidential monetary award but I didn’t ask.
I actually posted an update when the case was won (lost) a couple of months ago but it was off-topic.
NeilD
Since I live in Alberta my opinion should not matter but why let that stop me from giving it.
I would be supporting Hudak myself, but that is only based on policy/platform and not on electability. He would be a shoe in if it was Alberta, but in Ontario I don’t know.
#38 “I do like Randy Hillier as well, I don’t think he’d appeal to mainstream voters. He might make an excellent Premier in Alberta, lol.”
Them’s fighting words Raphael, but momma always said never slug it out with someone ambidextrous.
Really it is true though. Hillier could be elected in Alberta. We almost had Ted Morton as our Premier, and I am betting right now many who voted for Fast Eddie wish they had really thought out their choice a little bit more.
Joanne, just sent you an email. Please check it out when you have some free time. Thanksh
What we do with the HRCs is of fundamental importance, but, politics being politics, I think paulsstuff’s review idea has substantial merit as it reduces the risk of getting pinned down by Liberal misrepresentation.
I like Elliot’s flat tax, but that is a stance that can also easily be misrepresented. I should note that income splitting would essentially become redundant if we had a flat tax.
So far, Hudak is the only leadership candidate who has addressed the Green Energy Act. The Liberals are very vulnerable on this issue. No one wants to live beside a wind turbine unless they are crazy, and wait until Ontarians see the impact of the GEA on their electricity bills. I’m leaning to Hudak.
The HRCs seem to have become the refuge of some inconsiderate and selfish people rather than the refuge of people who truly are the victims of human rights violations. Take, for example, the fellow who smoked his medical dope outside the pub. To make a long story short – instead of moving when asked, he went to the HRC which harassed the pub owner.
I read Levant’s book the moment it was available at Chapters and was incensed by the abuse, not only at the hands of people without a valid claim but also at the hands of the vindictive fools who have been given the power to abuse. The HRCs have become kangaroo courts and, to be honest, I liken them to a corrupt dictatorship within our democracy.
There are examples in Levant’s book which defy all logic. The case of the family who put up the satellite dish at their condo despite knowing that it was against condo rules and despite signing to indicate that they knew this when they bought their condo. The woman who caused trouble to McDonald’s over hand-washing – a violation of her dignity????
I am not at all in support of Elliott – there is something about her which rubs me the wrong way. And, to really stick out my neck: I really do not believe that Ontario voters will vote for a female candidate for premier. For some reason, our supposedly progressive country has a problem with women at the helm.
I find it odd that our left-wing talks about being progressive and yet how many woman premiers and prime ministers have we had? We had Kim Campbell but that was by default and she didn’t last long. If Ontario is to rid itself of McGuinty’s band of tax-crazy fools, we cannot take a chance on next election.
Personally, I think it’s time we had a woman steering the ship – a woman in the form of Margaret Thatcher, for example. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Thatcher-type running for anything.
This may sound crazy, but I’d love to see somebody like our GG as premier. Intelligence, strength, and class – imagine having somebody like that running our province. It sure would be a nice change.
Flat tax – I am 100% in favour of that provided that the rate is not onerous. I say let the HRCs become a secondary issue and focus on flat tax, either removing the health tax or directing every cent of it to health care, reverse McGuinty’s theft of property rights re: wind turbines, get our existing power plants running at full capacity, get rid of TOD electricity rates, go back to establishing an east-west electric grid with Manitoba and Quebec. These are issues which affect our lives in significant ways.
I don’t have a link but I had read in some paper years ago, that Ontario had been in talks with Manitoba and Quebec re: east-west grid prior to Rae becoming premier. From what I recall, his government threw up so many obstacles that the other two provinces walked away. I don’t have anything to back that up but I recall it that way.
Our politicians talk in ethereal terms – poverty reduction, homelessness, job creation…but none of it ever seems to become reality. Let’s focus on real issues like electricity rates, gouging at the pumps, health care…let’s get real results like a Conservative majority can do. Liberals talk in billions of dollars and in lofty terms. Liberals like task forces and expert panels. But, our everyday lives never improve and, in fact, become poorer and more challenging.
Personally, I’d like to see the HRCs banished, faith-based schools receive funding, protests restricted so as to not disrupt the lives of ordinary people…I’d like to see lots of lofty ideals come to be realized but I am practical. I want my hydro rates to decrease, I want to stop being gouged at the pumps, I’d like to see our government eliminate programs which do nothing significant except to suck dollars out of our pockets, I’d like our health care system to function for us Canadians…I’d like some significant reductions in the taxes I pay. I’d like to see our cities receive the funding promised by the Liberals so that our property taxes would remain stable and our services improve.
I’d also like our candidates to answer questions directly and honestly and, when the question cannot be answered, to be told that he or she cannot answer the question instead of spewing babblegab. I want our party to rise above the lies and deception of the Liberals. I want our party to show Canadians and Ontarians that we are honest and direct and do not make promises which we intend to break – GST, no new taxes, etc.
Wonder if the HRC’s could become the one issue in the election? This is one issue they should all agree needs changing, even Liberals.
It’s still a tough call, after listening to Hudak on Global, he’s very impressive. So you see, it’s not an easy decision. In choosing the next leader we need someone with the right tools to clear out the McGuinty Liberals.
They didn’t deserve re-election, they still don’t, but we’re talking about Ontario voters who seem to consistently love Liberals even when they lie or break key promises like “I will not raise taxes”. That was a doozie especially when he already had spouted about a deficit left by the previous government.
Thought I’d throw this idea out to your well informed readership. Considering that the Provincial Liberal record has been anything but stellar, would a Conservative backed campaign to the effect of not necessarily Conservative but, “ANYTHING BUT LIBERAL” in the next election have any merit? I live in what was supposedly a Liberal stronghold in Northern Ontario. As you know, every riding but one voted NDP in the last election. This was probably due to the problems in the forestry sector and the lack of concern by the Provincial Liberal government who offered nothing but lip service. Also the Conservatives didn’t really have any strong candidates running, and their campaigns were quite poor to non-existent.
I watched Focus Ontario last evening with Elliott and Hudak.
I thought Elliott was extremely poised, professional, relaxed and confident of her proposals. She also explained very well the specifics of why she would enact certain things.
She answered all questions asked of her. While she’s soft-spoken her quiet confidence would make people stop and listen to her.
I found Hudak to be full of cliches(ehs) repetitive…he said “work for middle class and seniors” too often that is made him sound way too scripted. He had more energy, and sounded as if he’d need little preparation to hit the bricks running. He skirted some of the hosts questions a bit. I like that he included some
reference to the Harris CSR. Hudak’s ready for a fight.
We need both types actually, but if Hudak could refrain from those old scripted talking points and come off as quietly confident when it requires him to do so, and not be a hardass 24/7
he’d represent the momentum builder.
If he listens to the grass roots as much as Snobelen’s column suggests in the Sun then I’m looking forward to a Hudak phone call sooner rather then later.
Randy Hillier outrages the leftists.
Is Selley mocking the McGuinty socialists?
Read the nuanced, politically correct Red Tory response from Klees.
Change Klees to McGuinty: same difference.
Go Randy.
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“Chris Selley: Cheers to Randy Hillier
Score one for Randy Hillier in his, shall we say, unlikely campaign to be the next leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives: as noted over at the Western Standard earlier this week, Captain Suspenders wants to eliminate “the foreign brewer monopoly.” That is, he wants to allow beer to be sold other than at the government-owned LCBO and at the government-granted monopoly that is The Beer Store, which among innumerable other deficiencies is owned by American, Belgian and Japanese interests. Hillier would allow off sales, for example, and beer to be sold in supermarkets.
Well, I hope everyone was sitting down for that. This would, of course, be an act of legislative madness that only a lunatic like Hillier would ever propose. Everyone knows that to put booze on supermarket or corner store shelves would be to cram a plastic tube in every Ontarian 13-year-old’s mouth and pour a Lucky Lager down the funnel. Just ask PC leadership candidate Frank Klees, as Stephen Taylor did yesterday:
I’m opposed to that. … I’m concerned, quite frankly, about our safety in our neighbourhoods, and I will not support liberalizing [alcohol] laws to even provide the risk that there would be more access, on the part particularly of young people, to consuming alcoholic beverages.”
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/04/30/chris-selley-cheers-to-randy-hillier.aspx
Joanne — The link you have to my yesterdays post about how nasty the Ontario PC campaign is getting — is now broken as I have taken it down. I did so for legal reasons as well as the fact that I had been picked up by a couple of Libloggers and I didn’t want to give them any ammunition for 2011.
I have replaced it with this post: http://www.sandracruxblog.com/2009/06/07/tim-hudak-the-peoples-choice-for-leader/
Boring maybe (LOL) but positive!
Good plan, Sandy. Sometimes boring is best.
I’m gobsmacked following this leadership contest. I can hardly wait until Monty Python is running Ont.
Oh that’s a different Cleese.
Pity.
Ontario’s Liberal-socialist McGuinty going down.
Down with McGuinty.
UK’s Gordon Brown = socialists going down “despite the crisis of global capitalism.”
Down with socialism.
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“Bad results for Gordon Brown – but also for left across EU
guardian.co.uk – 1 hour ago
Another bad night for Gordon Brown then, beaten in heartland Scotland and even Wales. But he was not alone. Parties of the centre left fell back across Europe despite the crisis of global capitalism.”
Down with Liberal-socialist McGuinty’s socialist pyramid scheme.
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“Health minister fires head of eHealth Ontario amid contracts scandal”
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/06/07/ehealth-kramer.html
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“Head of eHealth Ontario to receive $317K severance pay”
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/646979
Wow! That’s big news. Thanks Maz2. I’ll probably add that link to a past post that’s relevant.
So Kramer gets a huge severance package now? This just gets worse and worse.
[...] Update: Two great links here via Maz2 – eHealth head fired amid contract controversy and Head of eHealth Ontario to receive $317K [...]
[...] a tremendous difference in setting the record straight’. He was particularly intrigued by the post regarding the OHRC and the ensuing discussion in the comments section. (See? He reads the comments [...]