Reflections on Tim Hudak’s Victory

by John Laforet
posted on June 28th, 2009 at 18:36:12 pm

I think the thing I found most interesting about the PC Party race was that it was an actual race. There were divergences of opinion, fundamental policy differences and a demonstration of a wide spectrum even within the PC Party. Normally leadership debates are fairly dry things where everyone basically agrees on policy and is simply left arguing that they personally are the best person to lead their party. 

That was not the case here. 

Tim Hudak’s victory does undeniably signal a shift to the right for the PC Party. How far right or what that right is like is still unknown. I don’t buy the ‘he’s a younger Mike Harris’ simply because I believe Hudak is wise enough to understand that the Harris and Eves governments did make mistakes, some policies were not popular and in some cases caused a lot of hurt to folks. I don’t believe anyone would want to re-fight the divisive battles of the mid to late nineties and I believe Tim Hudak as leader recognizes that as well. 

Unlike Andrea Horwath’s victory as NDP leader where many recognized that the baggage that came with the 1990-1995 experience in government had to be left behind because she was clearly not associated with that, and had a very different vision, Hudak will need to work on his image to ensure that voters in Ontario see him as his own man and are comfortable enough with who he is and what he is about to consider electing him Premier. 

I was asked immediately after Hudak won and in the couple of hours that followed by some folks what my thoughts were on the outcome and more pointedly his ability to win. What I said was this, ‘If the party wanted to win a majority very easily, than Christine Elliott was the candidate to elect. However, what became clear during my time covering the race, and speaking with Conservatives is the party is farther to the right than she is, and more comfortable with a guy like Hudak’. Hudak could well win a majority government in 2011, but he’ll need to convince folks that the stuff on the front page of the Toronto Star today isn’t true first. 

I completely understand why Mike Harris is so well liked by PC members, but PC members need to also try to understand why many issues based, and ‘swing voters’ defeated them in 2003, if they are intent to form government in 2011. 

Speaking with him both on and off camera on a range of issues I got a real sense that he is genuine and firmly believes what he stands for and speaks out for. 

His task now is presenting himself to Ontario voters in a way that folks in the 416 and 905 can be as comfortable with him as folks in the 519, 705 and 613. I think he’s up to the task, it’s now just a question of how willing and able he and the people around him, and more importantly his caucus is prepared to work on that. 

Personally, I am an undecided voter with no party affiliation who would love to see both the NDP and the PCs get to the point of being able to each offer Ontarians the kinds of policies that would allow either to form government in advance of the 2011 election.