Candidates vying for leadership of the provincial Progressive Conservatives attended the Perth-Wellington PC annual general meeting at Trillium Insurance here on Jan. 24.
Leadership hopefuls Patrick Brown, Vic Fedeli, Lisa MacLeod and Monte McNaughton were each given 10 minutes to address members of the association. Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson attended on behalf of Whitby-Oshawa leadership candidate Christine Elliott.
One major theme that seemed to dominate discussions was the idea of unity within the party, along with working to increase membership and voter turnout in 2018. Many of the speakers pitched a return to traditional PC values and a focus on core services such as education and health care.
Barrie MP Brown spoke about increasing party activity in demographic areas where Conservative voter turnout is low – particularly among young people and in urban ethnic communities. He also noted in the past the party has been too closed-minded, putting it out of touch with voters.
“We’ve turned off a lot of groups in Ontario because we were the party that was too contrary, too negative,” he said. “The average voter isn’t partisan. The average voter wants to look at our party and say, this is a party that is open-minded, is reasonable, is sincere, is authentic.”
Brown also suggested catering the education system to the skilled trades sector as a means of decreasing young adult unemployment rates.
“We need to focus on the skilled trades for the jobs that exist today, not the jobs that existed 20 years ago,” he said. “It is heartbreaking hearing about young people in graduate school, in professions where jobs do not exist … there are jobs out there but we need to build an education system that is tailored.”
Thompson spoke on behalf of Elliott and highlighted many aspects of her colleague’s portfolio she feels make Elliott more than qualified for the position, including past experience as a real estate and corporate/commercial estate lawyer with the Whitby firm Flaherty Dow Elliott and McCarthy, which Elliott co-founded.
“Christine is probably one of the last people the Liberal party of Ontario wants to see win this race. She is going to be tough to beat and she can stand up and hold the Liberal government to account,” Thompson said. “She brings a wealth of experience to the table and that makes her ready to lead.”
One of Elliott’s main campaign principals is to revamp the health care system, Thompson told the audience. Her ideals focus on Ontario’s families, rural communities and making sure “not one individual is left behind.”
“It’s staggering how our health system, which was once upon a time something to brag about, is now faltering,” she said. “We had testimonial after testimonial of people that said the CCAC is cutting their services and it is the only way [people] have been able to come back home confidently … that is just one small example of how our health care has faltered.”
Nipissing MPP Fedeli chose to focus on his past success as an entrepreneur and mayor of the City of North Bay, saying as premier he will apply these same strategies at the provincial level.
He talked specifically about a program he spearheaded as mayor that saw a stagnating 112-acre industrial park in North Bay re-developed to attract numerous million-dollar companies to the city.
“The city hadn’t sold one inch of land for 15 years, so I put a plan together to sell it for $1 an acre. Some people scoffed at it, some laughed and chuckled but Goodyear Canada … came up and bought 19 fully-serviced acres for $19,” he explained. “They built a 100,000 square foot factory and put 40 people to work.”
He said it isn’t the government’s responsibility to provide jobs, but instead create an environment where they can flourish and this will be his mandate as leader.
“I understand what it takes to create jobs. Governments don’t create jobs, governments create a climate for businesses to want to come and create their own jobs,” he said.
Nepean-Carleton MPP MacLeod talked about her “come back home” strategy.
“I’m asking people who maybe think they are default Liberals, who once supported our party provincially or are currently supporting our federal cousins to again come back home,” she said.
“I think it’s important we share that message of what it means to be a provincial Conservative because I think it’s a lot different than what is portrayed in the media.”
She emphasized that future success will be dependent on the party becoming unified in its values and going back to the core principals – namely modest spending, protection for children and families, and assisting those who cannot help themselves.
“In the last four elections … we played wedge politics. We talked about the latest, greatest, newest idea we had and everyone should agree with, instead of talking about what unites us with the rest of Ontario,” MacLeod said.
“When we talk about a strong economy in the context of a healthier education system and health care system, we’ve won. We need a clear consistent message as Progressive Conservatives.”
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP McNaughton said he plans to specifically challenge Kathleen Wynne’s new sex education program implemented in elementary schools and move to get rid of the Liberal pension plan.
“Parents should be the first educators when it comes to serious issues like sex education and the government needs to respect parents,” he said.
“Five years ago [Wynne] said she would consult with moms and dads out there, but we found out in November she made an announcement saying in September 2015 there will be a new sex ed curriculum in classrooms – with zero consultation.”
McNaughton said he also plans to take down the wind power program in the province.
“I would enact specific legislation and cancel the wind power program in Ontario,” he said. “This is a program that over the next 20 years is going to cost $60 billion … we all know it’s driving up electricity costs and killing manufacturing jobs.”
Following the formal meeting, association members were given the opportunity to pose questions to candidates.
Leadership voting will take place on May 3 from 11am until 5pm and May 7 from 3 to 9pm, with the results announced in Toronto on May 9.
The local voting location has yet to be announced, but it will likely be in Listowel. To be eligible to vote, supporters must be a member of the party by 5pm on Feb. 28. For more information call 519-291-6950.
