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Ontario PC Leadership Race
By Dave Hodson | April 26, 2009
During the days of John ‘Red’ Tory, I let my Ontario PC membership lapse and stopped any financial support I was giving to the party. Now that the race is underway to choose a new leader, I have just renewed my membership and am trying to decide who I will support for leader.
I have carefully examined the websites of the leadership candidates to get a better feel for what they each stand for. I found myself impressed with some of the candidates, and not so much with others. Some of the sites are very light on specifics of policy positions. I realize that policy is developed by the party, not just the leader, and is done over a length of time leading up to an election campaign. I also understand that any policy positions of a leadership candidate may not find their way into a future official election platform. However, knowing where candidates stand on a range of issues, including any of their specific policy ideas, can give me a feel for the general direction that candidate would try to take the party.
I will now give my impression of each of the four leadership candidates, and offer my current preference at the end of this piece.
Frank Klees (www.frankklees.com)
I’m starting with Frank Klees because he happens to be my local MPP.
About the only policy proposal I could extract from Frank’s site is his intention to promote tourism in the north and improve access to crown land by boosting the budgets of the Tourism and Natural Resources ministries. I’m a big supporter of these goals, however, I’m not a fan of the proposal if it involves spending even more tax dollars to do it. If he had planned to make those ministries more efficient in their spending and perhaps achieve those goals through a redirection of current spending, I might like it.
Sorry Frank, but you’re not going to win my support with any promise of increasing the size of any government department.
I’d love to know more about his positions, but they are not easily found.
Tim Hudak (www.timhudak.ca)
While I’m impressed with the number of policy ideas Tim has proposed, I don’t like all of them.
Stop the HST - I like this proposal.
1-Year holiday on payroll tax on new hires - I like tax cuts, but honestly, I’m not sure this will really accomplish anything. As an employer myself, I’m not going to hire someone today because the EHT will be waived for that new hire for a 1-year period. Cutting payroll taxes permanently for all employees might make a difference, but a 1-year exemption on new hires?
1-Year suspension of the land transfer tax - I have always hated the land transfer tax. If I want to move across the street, I end up paying thousands of dollars for absolutely nothing. It’s a tax that has nothing to do with discouraging bad behaviour, and it’s a tax that has nothing to do with one’s ability to pay the tax. Get rid of it permanently, not for 1-year. A temporary suspension of the tax seems a bit useless.
Rebate on the trade-in of a 10-year old car for a new one - This is being billed as a way to reduce pollution and boost auto sales. However, you might get the opposite effect if you motivate people who own 8-year old cars, who are already considering a new car, to wait two more years to make the purchase! I don’t like interfering in free markets.
Renegotiate public sector wage contracts because of the recession - I’m not sure you could even get away with doing this? I’m all for cutting government spending, but how about eliminating selected wasteful government services completely, rather than an across-the-board reduction in wages?
Keep government spending within our means - Seems like a no-brainer, but he hasn’t provided any specifics on how he would cut or control spending.
Long term plan focused on job creation through having the lowest business taxes in the province - Again, he’s short on specifics, but I agree with the concept.
I haven’t seen anything on his position on personal taxes. Other than not harmonizing the PST with the GST, will Ontarians see any tax cuts with Tim?
Randy Hillier (www.hillierforleader.com)
Randy’s platform seems to the best thought out and organized of the four candidates.
Freedom of Association and Conscience Act - This would prevent various service providers from being forced to perform services they don’t agree with. This is not at the top of my priority list, but I can’t disagree with it.
Re-open the spring bear hunt - It’s not something that personally resonates with me, but I’m not opposed to it. If it will improve tourism and economic conditions in the north, and it doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything, then I support it.
Allow private competition with workplace safety insurance - If the private sector can provide this service more cost-efficiently, then I’m all for it. I would need to do some more research on this.
Changes to the process of card-based union certification - Again, it’s not at the top of my priority list, but I like it.
Change the 3:1 apprenticeship ratio for trades in Ontario - This could be very beneficial at getting more people working in the trades.
Repeal the pit bull ban - I like freedom, and I generally hate bans. I would support this, as long as there are strict rules over the control of dogs (not just pit bulls), to keep the public out of danger, with very severe jail penalties for the owners of dogs who do harm people. I.e. allow people to have them, but make them take responsibility and make an informed decision over the risks of ownership.
No word on whether Randy would repeal Dalton’s stupid pesticide ban. That would be a big vote winner with me.
Eliminate the Ontario Human Rights Commission - The sooner the better, in my opinion.
Ending MPAC - Our current system for property tax assessment is not working. However, I’m not sure how well any proposed alternative systems would work. I’m open to fixing it. Personally, I would like a system with lower municipal taxes tied to property values and increased user fees.
Senate elections in Ontario - My first choice is to abolish the senate completely. However, it doesn’t appear that will happen anytime soon. I will take an elected senate over what we have now.
Municipal Reform Act that allows amalgamated cities do de-amalgamate - I generally support letting the local people make decisions on local issues. Again, it’s not a big issue with me, but I would support it.
Specifics aside, I get the impression that Randy Hillier’s position is one of increased responsibility and freedom for both business and individuals. That is something I can support.
Christine Elliott (www.votechristine.ca)
Christine has published a “Path to Victory” document that explains a timeline of various events that need to happen, such as team building, fundraising, membership building and policy development. The document, however, doesn’t tell us where Christine stands on any specific policy.
Improved access to justice services and affordable broadband services in Northern and rural Ontario - This sounds like a policy that will cost me more money.
Establish a Northern Ontario law school - Again, this sounds like something that will cost me more money. Besides, isn’t Ontario graduating enough lawyers right now? We need doctors, trades people and businesspeople, not more lawyers.
I’d love to know more about Christine’s positions. So far, I don’t like what I have seen.
Overall Opinion
I find it interesting that there seems to be very little talk of personal taxes. I would like to see some cuts in government spending along with cuts in taxes.
Based on the policy proposals I have read so far, my current choice for leader is… Randy Hillier. I don’t know if he is the best when it comes to leadership skills, motivation, fundraising or running an election campaign, but based on policy positions, he’s my current choice.
I will continue to monitor the leadership race for more developments and more information. I’m hoping that Frank and Christine step up efforts to tell me where they stand, because so far, I don’t have a lot to go on.
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Topics: Ontario, PC Party, Politics |
April 26th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I have my doubts about Frank Klees. A while back, I was spammed by Charles McVety. When I checked with the Federal Conservatives, they said they had not given any lists to McVety but had to Klees. I see now an association between Klees and McVety. Klees seems to have dubious ethics.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Jim, as I said above, Frank is not my current preference for leader. However, I have no cause to question his ethics. I’ve had dealings with Frank over the years, and his ethics are just fine.
As for being spammed, e-mail addresses can be acquired anywhere. It’s a big stretch to assume that Klees is spamming people in someone elses name, and I’m not going to believe that.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:03 am
I see it about the same way as you. I did a website investigation and found them generally long on nice slogans and short on any real thought-out policies or driving ideology that they base their decisions on. I know being vague is part of an “everyone should like me because I offend no one” approach, but I would prefer a candidate to say “this is what trouble we are in, and this is what we will do to fix it”,ie. we are in deficit of say 10 billion dollars; we will be cutting 11 billion dollars in spending from the following departments… and we will be getting rid of or rolling the services of the following departments into these departments …
I know it sounds like I am not taking into account forces like the unions and the media that fought Harris for years, but I also know that Harris won two elections and outside the teachers unions and the media he is still highly regarded.
I would choose Hillier then maybe Hudak, but I also feel that Hudak is probably better packaged for urban consumption than Hillier and in the end that will be a big factor when trying to win an election.
I am not really excited about any of the candidates but I think part of that is the fact that I would be in the right side of the Republican party, so I view our Conservative party as slightly to the left of the Democrats.
p.s. I read your profile and wish that candidates would lay out their beliefs as clearly as you have. It’s a shame people with clear convictions and well thought out beliefs don’t run for office; hint, hint,.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Charles,
You make a good point about Hudak being better for urban consumption. Sometimes the leader favoured by the members of a specific party might not be the most electable in the province as a whole.
However, that was one of the concerns that got John Tory elected leader, and look where that got us! We ended up with a leader that wasn’t conservative, and all we had were a bunch of liberals on the last election ballot. Mike Harris was unapologitecally conservative, and it worked well for him.
For now, I’m just trying to figure out where they all stand on the issues. The more difficult part of this process will be trying to assess their electability across the province, and how well they can lead the party and motivate the membership and people of Ontario. But I’m not prepared to elect another liberal as party leader just because he or she might have a better chance of winning a general election.
p.s. thanks for the compliments, but I’m not planning to make a run for any political office!
April 26th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
For me there is only one choice and that’s Hillier. I’m impressed that he has the courage to confront the HRC circus. He also mentioned on CFRA, Ottawa, this morning that he hasn’t unveiled all of his policies. I got the impression that private property rights are still a major concern. He also spoke about how democracy has been undermined by the incestuous relationship between special interest groups and this Liberal government.
With all due respect to the other candidates, they really sound like various versions of John Tory. After nearly eight years of unbridled authoritarianism in Ontario, to me, Randy Hillier is the only candidate who speaks directly to the changes that this province needs.
April 26th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Sorry folks, but a Hillier victory spells victory for McGuinty in 2011… he’s too far of a pendulum swing to the right from John Tory.
Either Elliott or Hudak are the only real options if we have any hope of winning, or even just making gains, in 2011.
Hillier wins, and I’m helping the Greens.
April 26th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
After having met both Hillier and Elliot, I can tell you that I am a fan of Randy Hillier as he educated our campus group on individual responsibility, liberty, and property rights. Elliot was only there to plug her leadership bid and was not inspiring at all.
Hillier is NOT a gun-tooting Social Conservative Red Neck as some would get the impression of. As you explained above his policy platform is the most CONSERVATIVE, in the truest and freeest sense. At this point I don’t care about whether he looks electable, because he has substance and you would be surprised how that will help win seats in the Suburbs and Northern Ontario.
So I will be voting for Randy Hillier. We don’t need any more PROGRESSIVE’s to lead the party.
April 26th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
CC, just about anybody is a big pendulum swing to the right of John Tory. McGuinty could even be further right than Tory on many issues. Tory is not really the best benchmark to use. We’re going to pick up seats no matter who is leader, just as long as they’re not John Tory. Tory lost the blue conservative vote because he was too far to the left. Tory lost people from across the political spectrum because of his idiotic faith-based school funding proposal.
April 27th, 2009 at 6:43 am
So, CC, if Hillier wins the leadership race, rather than helping Conservatives win the next election you would rather help a party that has even less chance of winning. How does that make sense, unless your reasons are personal and not political?