John Tory, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, delivers his keynote speech at the party's Northern Ontario Summit Saturday afternoon.
John Tory, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, delivers his keynote speech at the party's Northern Ontario Summit Saturday afternoon.
PC leader John Tory gave northern Conservatives a taste of what Ontario would be like if his party wins next years election.
Tory delivered a keynote speech, and answered questions from northern delegates, during the PC Northern Summit held at the Best Western Saturday afternoon. The Summit, which was a promise made earlier in the year, addressed issues that are unique to Northern Ontario.
“I believe our Progressive Conservative Party can and should be a viable and substantive alternative to the McGuinty Liberals for all Northern Ontarians,” Tory said.
Tory said he believes “one-size-fits-all” decision making for Ontario results in failure for Northern Ontarians. He told his crowd at the Best Western that McGuinty makes decisions from the South for the whole province, citing the method as the reason for the forest industry crisis, out-migration of northern youth, and the lack of medical professionals in the North.
“I think we need a real plan, not one that changes every half hour like Mr. Mcguinty,” he said.
“Mr Mcguinty makes promises he can’t keep, and knows he can’t keep, and then when a problem comes up he hides under his desk and hopes it blows over.”
“That’s what leadership is about, if there’s a problem you deal with it, not just hoping the problem goes away.”
Tory used the construction delays of the North Bay Regional Hospital to back up his point.
“There’s a nice field, but that’s it, a field and a sign,” he said.
“Not many people can get treatment from a sign.”
Tory also explained Ontario has to offer incentives to attract business to the North. He said he is looking at tax measures which would entice new industry to head north.
“We’ve got to have some bold measures that say to industry not only are we open for business in northern Ontario, but we really, really want you to come here, and people will come,” Tory said.
Tory added the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) is an important organization to the north, and if he were to be elected, would have no thoughts of privatizing the business.
“I’m not a great privatizer, and I’ve never given any thought to privatizing the ONTC,” he said.
Tory also pointed out that he has visited North Bay more often than Mcguinty, and explained he intends to keep returning.
