Almost nine months have passed since delegates attending the Conservative convention in London reluctantly granted John Tory the second chance he was seeking to lead their party. Since then the fortunes of the Conservative Party have deteriorated dramatically. Fundraising has all but dried up, fewer and fewer people are bothering to attend events featuring the Conservative chief, the media virtually ignores him, and the caucus is demoralized and rudderless with no leader in the legislature and no immediate prospect of there being one. In spite of all this, Tory seems determined to stay on. As recently as September 5 he was assuring reporters that he would have a seat by the end of the year, now less than two months away.
This latter point is not insignificant. Members of the Conservative caucus may be saying the right things about their leader in public, but actions speak louder than words. The fact that not one of them is willing to step aside to allow him to run for a seat in the legislature says more than any declaration of loyalty ever could in the circumstances.
I don't think it's going to make a heckuva lot of difference even if Ontario does get a new leader. The PC's are Red Tories-- if that. I'm sure on the ground, the grassroots think and act like conservatives.
But their leadership doesn't.
The problem with conservative parties in this country is that they keep trying to pander. Pandering is all well and good, and it might get you elected, but what's the point of getting elected with liberal policies? Why vote for fake conservatives when you can get the real thing?
The Family Coalition Party of Ontario is the only choice for me. Is it a long steep climb to power? No doubt. But look at where the Tories are at: they're not in government and they're not acting like conservatives.
They're not doing more good than we are.
