Leadership not a topic at convention: Hudak
Liberals accuse Tories of hiding true agenda
TORONTO Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives will spend the weekend debating policy ideas such as cutting income taxes and selling beer and wine in corner stores, but the Liberals accused Opposition Leader Tim Hudak Friday of hiding his true agenda.
The Tories have released white papers showing they would eliminate 10,000 education jobs and make union membership optional, but those ideas are not on the agenda at the PC policy conference in London, said Liberal MPP Steven Del Duca.
“I think it’s the clearest demonstration I’ve seen yet that they have a pretty horrible, hidden agenda for the people of Ontario,” said Del Duca.
There are about two-dozen policy ideas up for debate at the Tory convention, including a proposal to lower personal tax rates and reduce the number of income tax brackets to ease the overall tax load. The Tories would pay for the tax cuts by reducing the number of tax credits that currently exist.
Conservative delegates will also consider a plan to allow Ontario stores to be licensed to sell beer and wine, similar to what’s done in British Columbia and Quebec.
Hudak was shrugging off challenges to his leadership at the policy conference, saying it will amount to nothing more than “a footnote in the party’s history.”
Some Tories upset that they took only one of five byelections last month moved a motion to amend the party’s constitution to allow for a leadership review, a motion Hudak originally tried to quash until two caucus members openly said the party should listen to the concerns of grassroots members.
Hudak captured 78 per cent support in the leadership review that was automatic after the Tories lost the 2011 election, and said he doesn’t need to face another one.
“Our PC party has been known from time to time to get together at conventions and we’ll have our quarrels and then we unite, and we are a formidable force when it comes to campaigns and elections,” he said.
The weekend convention is all about policy ideas and preparing for the next election, insisted Hudak.
“I’ve been across the province talking to PC party members and the general public and they like what we’re talking about,” he said. “They like our plan on jobs, they like our plan around making sure the government spends within its means.”
Supporters say now is not the time to be talking about reviewing Hudak’s leadership, especially with Premier Kathleen Wynne threatening an election if the minority Liberals can’t get bills passed in the legislature.