If I were running for office in the Oct. 6 election in rural Ontario under the Progressive Conservative banner, I think I would want to get some duct tape and place some firmly across leader Tim Hudak’s mouth.
The more he opens it the worse it gets for anyone running (for the Tories) outside the GTA.
I heard recently that he told a group of Toronto officials, that if elected, he would make that city “a priority”. A priority? Really? So what happens to rural areas and our needs?
Next he was heard complaining that there are too many water regulations in the province and he will cut some out. (Mike Harris will be proud of his former understudy – he learned well.)
And then the PC leader told municipal leaders at last week’s AMO conference that he won’t promise to continue the uploading that the Liberals have committed to.
That could have a very costly impact on Brockton with court security costs alone, let alone other things. The province has promised to take back a large portion of the security costs over the next few years. Now the PCs have put that much needed funding in jeopardy – I guess to help pay for the things that will make Toronto a priority.
His statement didn’t sit well with local officials.
The Liberals have said the PC platform has an $11 billion hole in it. I guess when you promise to cut taxes and increase spending (for Toronto), you eventually discover there’s not enough money to cover all your plans, so rural Ontario will pay.
It makes me wonder how worse off we’ll be in rural Ontario under the urban-centric mantra of the Progressive Conservatives. With such a platform, it’s no wonder Bill Murdoch retired!
I think a couple of old sayings come to mind when it comes to the PCs. “Been there, done that.” And, “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t”.
But still, I think that duct tape might come in handy as the election heats up.