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Should he stay or should he go?
January 16, 2008
It’s a question not only for high school dances but a big one John Tory finds himself being forced to answer up to these days as he tries to hold on to the reins of power of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.
It’s a question he forced upon himself just as he forced the faith-based school plank of his party’s platform on his candidates in the last election. That election should have been a great opportunity for Tory and the PCs to regain a foothold in the province’s politics. Instead, Tory finds himself scrambling to stay upright. It can’t be forgotten that the McGuinty Liberals had plenty to criticize coming into the election. While no pundit was putting their neck out saying a PC majority, a minority government in Queen’s Park was the favourite coming down the stretch. Well, we all know what happened after that. The minority didn’t happen and McGuinty returned to the premiership stronger than ever. Tory found himself kicked to the curb, failing to gain a seat in the legislature. It is hardly surprising that there is now a movement to depose Tory. A party meeting in February will poll party faithfuls about whether or not they still have faith in Tory to lead them into the next provincial election in 2011. This is a question of leadership and Tory needs to look the part. With fractions in the party appearing, there is ample evidence that he isn’t getting the job done. No matter the resume, the track record, the work ethic or commitment, if the party isn’t behind him Tory has to go. After his dismissal performance in the last election, Tory should have realized that people would be calling for his head – and he should have offered it. He himself said that he had not paid enough attention to the grassroots of the party and the electorate when he bulldozed ahead with faith-based school funding. A leadership contest is an excellent way of getting in contact with the grassroots. It also puts all of the cards on the table. Our local member Norm Miller says he believes in Tory’s ability, citing his track record and work ethic as reasons for his faith. If Miller’s faith is well-founded, Tory should have no difficulty going head-to-head with other leadership rivals for the job of top PC dog. But his machinations attempting to hold onto the position, despite the fact he isn’t even allowed into the house of Queen’s Park, will only further fragment the party and give disgruntled members more zeal in sharpening their knives. If Tory wants to keep the position he needs to prove once again that he is the best person for the job – because right now he doesn’t fit that bill.
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