Andrea Horwath Proves She is Classier Than McGuinty – Congratulates Hudak
This is the unedited Ontario NDP response to Tim Hudak’s victory, straight from the Canada News Wire NDP Leader Andrea Horwath congratulates Hudak.
“I want to congratulate Tim Hudak on his successful run for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. I look forward to working with him in this exciting new role.
I also want to thank former PC Leader John Tory and interim Leader Bob Runciman for their service. While we differed on many issues, we were able to work together in the Legislature with mutual respect.
I am confident that respect will continue with Tim and I wish him congratulations tonight.”
This is the unedited Ontario Liberal Party response to Tim Hudak’s victory, straight from the Canada News Wire Harris wannabe squeaks by at Conservative convention.
Deal with Hillier and plan to scrap human rights protections prove Hudak is out of touch with Ontarian’s values
MARKHAM, ON, June 27 /CNW/ – Ontario Conservatives moved further back to the old Mike Harris era and further out of touch with today’s Ontario in selecting Tim Hudak as their Leader.
Hudak’s victory is owed largely to the support of radical-right wing candidate Randy Hillier. Hillier’s pledge of support came after Hudak followed Hillier in attacking the human rights protections Ontarians have valued for decades.
Hudak followed the Mike Harris playbook with negative, divisive pledges to rip up contracts of nurses and teachers. In addition, Hudak has pledged to slash funding for construction of new hospitals, schools and transit in communities across Ontario – which would throw thousands out of work in the middle of a global economic crisis.
“Ontario families don’t want to go back to the days of the Harris-gang calling the shots and Tim Hudak following,” said Liberal MPP Chris Bentley.
“Ontarians rejected that approach and don’t want to look back.”
My Commentary:
The Ontario NDP did not have any staffers or members of caucus present at the Ontario PC Leadership election. By my count, the Ontario Liberal Party had one Cabinet Minister and four staffers who are full time employees receiving salaries from taxpayer funds. Instead of handing out factually inaccurate and embarrassingly pathetic attacks on candidates at the PC convention, the NDP let the Tories have their weekend undisturbed, unprovoked.
This to me is a clear demonstration that Andrea Horwath gets that politics doesn’t have to be negative, and hopefully the Ontario NDP decision not to use taxpayers money for partisan purposes (unlike the Ontario Liberal Party) is a demonstration of their rejection of that cynical practice as well.
I’ve always liked Andrea Horwath, and see her response to Tim Hudak, someone I’m sure she disagrees with on almost everything with, demonstrates a decency that politics is missing. That is something I definitely admire and am happy to see Horwath demonstrating.
Tags: Andrea Horwath, Dalton McGuinty, Liberal Caucus Services Bureau, Markham, Ontario Liberal Party, Ontario NDP, Ontario PC Leadership, Ontario PC Party, PC Leadership Convention, Tim Hudak, Tim Hudak Victory
June 28th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Not to worry – it’s only days until the PC smear machine kicks it into high gear and makes that press release sound like a zen koan.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
that was a very nice post John – thank you for that – a class act all around.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Hi janfromthebruce – Thank you. I’m giving credit where credit is due; something it’d be great to see more of across party lines. For me, not having a party makes that a task I can take up and am happy to.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:55 am
As you quoted the leader of the NDP’s response to the election of Hudak, maybe you should have quoted the Liberal leader’s response as well.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Kathy – The Liberal Leader sent a Cabinet Minister in his place. This was the press release Liberal staff issued at the convention and over the news wire in the party’s name.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:06 am
For completeness, this is McGuinty’s statement from June 27th:
“I would like to offer my congratulations to Tim Hudak, the new leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, on his victory today.
In our parliamentary democracy, the role of Leader of the Opposition is an especially important one. The leader helps set the tone of debate in the Legislature, and the quality of decisions that affect all Ontarians.
On behalf of all Ontarians, I want to wish Tim Hudak well in his new role as Leader of the Opposition. Tim won a hard-fought campaign and I have no doubt he will bring that same dedication and enthusiasm to his new role.
Ontarians expect their leaders to work together to strengthen Ontario during this global recession. I am confident that, if we each do our part, we can overcome the challenges we face and build a stronger Ontario for the future, together.”
June 29th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Woods – The press release the party handed out to reporters AT the convention was the ‘Harris wannabe squeaks by at Conservative convention.’
The one on the Canada News Wire under the Ontario Liberal Party was ‘Harris wannabe squeaks by at Conservative convention.’
In searching for that release, it appears the Premier’s Office posted it on the Premier’s website, not on the Canada News Wire, and not at the convention where ‘Harris wannabe squeaks by at Conservative convention.’ was the press release received.
It is a nice statement, but one the Liberal Party did not give to the media that was covering the story, Chris Bentley, and the ‘Harris wannabe squeaks by at Conservative convention.’ was what was available.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
John…
I think you forgot to include Premier McGuinty’s statement which goes a little something like this:
“I would like to offer my congratulations to Tim Hudak, the new leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, on his victory today.
In our parliamentary democracy, the role of Leader of the Opposition is an especially important one. The leader helps set the tone of debate in the Legislature, and the quality of decisions that affect all Ontarians.
On behalf of all Ontarians, I want to wish Tim Hudak well in his new role as Leader of the Opposition. Tim won a hard-fought campaign and I have no doubt he will bring that same dedication and enthusiasm to his new role.
Ontarians expect their leaders to work together to strengthen Ontario during this global recession. I am confident that, if we each do our part, we can overcome the challenges we face and build a stronger Ontario for the future, together.”
June 30th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Andrew – The Premier must have forgotten to put it out over the news wire or have the four Liberal staff at the convention hand it out. It must have forgotten to send that with Minister Bentley.
Duplicity at best, but worth noting the NDP said all they had to in one release – with no staff at convention or caucus members. It is still far classier than the Premier’s behaviour.