Tory pledges leadership as he rallies the troops in York
By Bill Rea

John Tory addressed the local party faithfull June 20.

A Progressive Conservative government in Ontario would be ready to make tough decisions and keep its promises.

Party Leader John Tory made the comments June 20 when he addressed the annual York Leader's Dinner in Thornhill.

With an election a matter of months away, it's not surprising Tory's address frequently took on the tone of a pep talk for the troops.

"It seems that more people, here in York Region and around the province, are turning their attention to the state of the province," he commented, adding people he's been meeting have been telling him they are concerned about missed opportunities in Ontario, and its declining standing.

"They know in their hearts that after four years of Dalton McGuinty, things just aren't right," he declared, adding they would certainly have received that message during that week,m after the Auditor General released his review of the government's pre-election report on the province's finances. The government was slammed in the report "for irresponsible year-end spending sprees," Tory stated, adding that is something that will stop if his party gets in.

The two local Progressive Conservative candidates took part in the recent York Leader's Dinner. Oak Ridges - Markham candidate John Bannon delivered the toast, while York North MPP (and York - Simcoe candidate) Julia Munro said grace.

Having met many Ontarians of late, Tory said he's convinced they expect answers and leadership.

"People know leadership when they see it," Tory remarked. "Leaders set an example. Leaders keep their word; that's a basic concept. Leaders are not afraid to make tough decisions. Leaders have a plan. Leaders want to be measured. They want to be accountable."

Tory also observed that Ontario used to be the leader in Canada, in terms of economics, culture, politics and more. But he said it was leaders that made Ontario a leader; "Leaders who set big goals, held themselves accountable for those and then brought Ontarians together so we could achieve those goals."

For the first time in history, there are many people in Ontario who believe their children will not be as well off as them, Tory added. "I know it's not good enough for you," he declared.

The coming election is going to be a choice about leadership, he said. "I know that Ontarians believe that leadership matters."

"Almost two weeks ago, we laid out our plan for a better Ontario," Tory declared, adding they made it clear this is a plan for government, and not just an election platform. The plan, he said, calls for balanced budgets, makes only commitments that can be met and looks to the future.

"We call our plan, 'For a better Ontario: Leadership Matters,'" he said. "Our plan is built on the premise of smart planning and real results that benefit everyone. It's not about creating divisions. It's about coming together to create a stronger Ontario.

Tory focused on three areas of the plan.

Regarding health care, he said the system is still in poor shape, with more than one million people in Ontario (including in excess of 130,000 children) without a family doctor.

He added that many parts of York are designated as under-serviced for family doctors, and said he was recently talking to a nurse who told him that a child taken in for a suspected mental illness might have to wait a year before being seen by a psychiatrist and getting properly diagnosed.

"When I asked what the chances were that child might fall into a very dark hole of some kind during that long wait, I was told 'very high,'" he remarked.

"Nothing has been done about that on Dalton McGuinty's watch," he added.

"A John Tory Progressive Conservative government will make significant annual increases in investments in our healthcare so that by the fourth year of our mandate, total annual funding will be $8.5 billion more than current annual Liberal spending," he pledged, adding it won't just be spending, but smarter spending.

It will include improvements, such as electronic health to relieve the paperwork burden on doctors and nurses, and more innovation.

Tory also said this will be accomplished while gradually and responsibly getting rid of "the regressive, unfair socalled McGuinty health tax."

He charged the health tax has not been dedicated to health. "It goes into one great big general revenue fund, like any other tax," he observed. "It is an unfair tax that places an unfair burden on lower and middle income taxpayers."

"Leadership also matters when it comes to community safety and the level of violent crime we are seeing on our streets," Tory said. "Here, perhaps more than anywhere else, we can clearly see the damage that is done when government does not lead."

"I have met far too many mothers who have lost young sons to gun violence in the GTA," he added. "I have been to far too many funerals and memorial services for young people shot in broad daylight, in schools, in churches, in the middle of the street, in our own communities."

Tory charged the system has been failing families, as well as the police and the victims of crime. He added that 70 per cent of those accused in Toronto homicides last year were already out on bail, probation or subject to a court order, and vowed to end "this 'catch and release' spin cycle madness."

He also said a PC government will enhance support for police officers and work with the federal government to increase the number of police on the streets. They will also focus on early intervention and prevention with the goal of helping youth have alternatives to the temptation of joining a gang.

Addressing gridlock and transit issues, Tory lashed out at years of inaction from McGuinty.

The Tory program "includes a comprehensive transportation plan for Ontario that will improve transit infrastructure, will invest in roads, will reduce gridlock and will minimize the greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by gridlock," he declared "We will expand GO Transit's network to better reach unserved and underserved communities. We will plan and build and finance the rapid transit system in the GTA and work with transit authorities across the province."

Tory asked the audience to think about what would happen at their workplace if they routinely showed up late or not at all, did not follow through on assigned work, broke their word, and then days before their performance review swore they would do better next year and made a bunch of new promises.

"In most jobs, you probably wouldn't have lasted the year to begin with," he commented. "You wouldn't be around for your performance review."