Conservatives fighting over who’s the candidate? That’s the easy part

The Progressive Conservative party in Ontario is roiled by controversy, but do not be fooled. It’s just a sideshow.

Cambridge is only the latest riding association in which longtime party members are crying foul. They’re accusing the party’s central office of rigging the rules by which candidates are selected.

In Cambridge, local nominees were left scrambling to get in their applications to be the party’s candidate in the June 2018 election. Central office imposed an earlier deadline than expected. That blindsided some people who blame party leader Patrick Brown, and accuse him of giving an advantage to out-of-towners.

Maybe he is. But that’s politics. The party leader has the right to choose the local candidate, and that can create tension when the stakes are high.

It’s an old story. You’ve heard of Chrystia Freeland, federal minister of foreign affairs? She was once at the centre of just such a nasty fight three years ago. She was a star candidate, chosen by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau had earlier promised open nomination meetings. But then Liberal party central took control of the deadline in Freeland’s riding, to the surprise of many. Freeland was acclaimed. The unhappy riding president said the whole affair was “contrary to basic Liberal and democratic values.” Despite that, Freeland won in the 2015 election.

“By their nature, the central party has to be concerned with the entire field of candidates,” and ensure a good balance, said Scott Stager Piatkowski of Waterloo, who is vice-president of the provincial New Democrats, and also a member of the party’s federal council.

The NDP leader has the ability to override local members and choose a candidate, but that doesn’t happen because the pro-

cess is rigorous to begin with, he said. Before a vote is taken there must be a thorough search for a diverse group of candidates who are then vetted to make sure there’s nothing inappropriate in their past. Once approved, the candidates are chosen by votes of party members in each riding.

Democracy, or lack of it, at the grassroots level is an important issue. But it’s just the prelude to the main event.

There are some huge challenges for Brown’s Progressive Conservatives as we get closer to the election.

The Liberals have outstayed their welcome, but voters have been too afraid of the alternatives, especially the hard-right policies of former leader Tim Hudak.

Brown has been quiet so far, though he has sent out signals that he will keep a moderate path (he marched in the Pride parade and supports a carbon tax to take action on climate change).

That’s wise. The urban-rural balance in the province is tipping away from traditional Tory supporters. All 15 of the ridings that are being added are in urban or suburban areas. Brown has to win some of these if he wants to stay in the game.

But that means he has to work out how Progressive Conservatives can keep their core support while winning over those new voters.

We already know the Liberals from their record. It’s time now for Ontarians to see detailed plans from Brown for managing health care, the environment, education and the economy.

When that happens, there will be a lot to talk about. As fierce as the backlash from riding associations has been, people will hardly remember it, once we start chewing on the big issues.