Another Harris considers run in region
Former premier’s son may throw hat in ring in provincial election
WATERLOO — Waterloo Region could have not one Michael Harris — but two running in the provincial election.
Michael Harris Jr., the son of the former Ontario premier Mike Harris, is considering a run to represent the party in the Waterloo riding, he said at a Progressive Conservative rally hosted at Maxwell’s by the MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga, Michael Harris, in Waterloo Tuesday evening.
A PC candidate for the Waterloo riding has yet to be nominated.
Originally from North Bay, Harris Jr., 33, has lived in Waterloo for about five years, with his partner and five children.
He attended the event on Tuesday with his father.
“My son, Mike Jr. is thinking about running in Waterloo,” said the former party leader. “He’s talking to folks and what not, so that will be kind of exciting for me.”
Harris senior also commented on the party’s leadership race. He said the race has created momentum and interest in the party’s renewal, although he’s not throwing his support behind any one candidate.
“We have three candidates that all have recognition across the province, and I think any one of the three of them can help lead this province — and help us get rid of Kathleen Wynne, who’s been an unmitigated disaster,” he said.
All three registered PC party leadership candidates — Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney and Doug Ford — were invited to the rally hosted by MPP Harris, who is also Elliott’s campaign co-chair. Only Elliott attended, taking the stage for a stump speech along with local PC candidate for Kitchener Centre, Mary Henein Thorn, and candidate Amy Fee for Kitchener South-Hespeler. About 150 attended the event.
Elliott, who served as an MPP for almost a decade east of Toronto, has sought party leadership twice before. On Tuesday she emphasized that an experienced leader is needed for the party, given the short period of time between the selection of a leader on March 10, and the June 7 provincial election.
“I think that experience is really important in this race, because we have an election happening in June,” she said. “There’s not a lot of time and I don’t think we have the time to train a leader on the job, we need somebody that’s ready to go.
“I was at Queen’s Park as an MPP for nine years, I know how Queen’s Park operates, I know what the issues are.”
If Elliott does win the leadership, she will have to select a riding. When asked if she was considering Cambridge, she said she is looking at a number of ridings.
“We have about 30 ridings where we don’t have a candidate yet, so I’m looking a couple of ridings right now. And I hope to make a decision about that very soon,” she said.