Elliott talks about carbon tax, her rivals
Christine Elliott, a veteran Ontario Progressive Conservative politician and more recently Ontario’s patient ombudsman, announced Thursday she would enter the party’s fast-track leadership race. The runner-up to Patrick Brown in the 2015 leadership race, and the third-place candidate in 2009 when Tim Hudak became leader, she instantly became a front-runner among the field of candidates likely and declared. On Friday morning she spoke with the National Post’s Chris Selley.
Q So what’s your unique selling point, would you say, in a race that’s likely to include Doug Ford, Caroline Mulroney and Rod Phillips. What’s your basic pitch to members?
A I’m ready now, to go forward. This is not a time for someone that hasn’t had experience at Queen’s Park to come try to pull the party together and to defeat the Liberals in just a few months. I have had that experience. I was at Queen’s Park for many years. I am experienced in running in leaderships too (laughs). So I know what’s at stake here and I know how to do it.
Q In terms of outreach, Patrick Brown had a fractious relationship with the party’s social conservatives. Is there room for them in the PC Party of Ontario as you see it?
A Yes. Absolutely. It is a very big blue tent, comprised of people will all sorts of different views. ... So certainly social conservatives are more than welcome. ... We aren’t going to agree on every single thing, but I think every one of our members, be they social conservatives or not, are worthy of that respect and dignity.
Q Are you basically committed to running on the platform that dropped in November?
A Yes. For the most part, yes. Because I have been advised by caucus members and by many other people that this was an area where they were very involved, that they worked very hard on the platform with volunteers and other people across the province.
Q You said “for the most part, yes.” A The carbon tax is something I know has been very provocative, that was something that was announced by the previous leader, and while I’m not personally in favour of it I want to speak to the caucus and the nominated candidates to understand their views of it before we go forward.
Q What’s your objection to the carbon tax, and assuming that you think climate change is something we need to fight, what’s your preferred option?
A I do think that climate change is something that we need to fight. I think that a carbon tax is one of the answers. But what I really want to understand is what are the caucus members hearing from their constituents, what are the candidates hearing from the people in their ridings, to understand what the best plan is to put in place.
Q The Mulroney campaign is test- driving this line that you’re a two-time loser who quit the party and took a patronage appointment from Kathleen Wynne. What would you say to that?
A (Laughs.) I would say I don’t think that’s helpful in this race. We shouldn’t be disparaging each other in a personal way. It’s about what our ideas our, and we need to present our best ideas to the people of our party and the province. That’s what people are looking for, not random sniping. Just to address the issue about the socalled patronage appointment — it was anything but that. When I left (politics), I did not have a job for a couple of months. And I was approached by the firm that was doing the collection of candidates for the patient ombudsman position. And I was asked if I was interested in applying for the job, which I did do with several hundred other people, and I was put through the same process as everyone else.
Q There is an interesting dynamic here with you and Doug Ford — not only are you family friends, but he endorsed you in 2015, saying you were the one who could win the provincial election that’s coming up. A Well, I continue to believe I am the one who can beat Kathleen Wynne, and that’s why I’m in this contest to do that so we can bring about change that people are looking for in Ontario. As far as Doug is concerned, we are friends — we are family friends, our families have known each other for a number of years since my husband Jim (Flaherty) served with Doug’s father (as Tory MPPs at Queen’s Park). So I certainly intend to treat Doug with respect, and he’s indicated that he’ll do the same for me.
Q How and where do you plan to get yourself a seat in the legislature?
A Well, there are about 30 ridings that do not have candidates that are running there yet. I am looking at those ridings, trying to decide the best fit for me. As you may know I don’t live in Whitby anymore, I live in Toronto now. And I am looking at the where the best opportunity is where I can make a difference, be a good member and of course to be able to win the seat.
Q There has been a lot of talk about the necessity or the attractiveness of having a female candidate — at this moment in history, and because we have two other female candidates. What are your thoughts on that?
A I don’t necessarily hold that that has to be the case. Of course what we want is the best candidate to be the leader, and of course I think I’m the best candidate so I’m a little bit biased. But I think it would not be unhelpful in this case to have a woman leader, especially given that the other two parties are led by women.