John Tory is still the right man to lead the party
Editorial

Mike Harris and Dalton McGuinty might have radically different political philosophies, but they have one very interesting fact in common.

And it's something that current Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory should keep in mind.

Both Harris and McGuinty were soundly beaten the first time they led their respective parties into general elections, each watching the victors in those campaigns form substantial majority governments. And both went on from there to win majorities in their own right, twice.

Could Tory continue that trend?

Obviously York - Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan thinks so, as he announced late last week that he planned to support Tory at Saturday's party convention. At that convention, Tory received the backing of 66.9 per cent of the party membership on the question of whether or not his leadership should be reviewed.

That's just a hair better than a two-thirds majority, thus probably not what Tory was hoping for. But as Van Loan pointed out, there were no obvious alternatives to Tory, so it seemed logical to stick with him.

But even with the vote he received Saturday, Tory has to be realistic. The membership might be willing to give him another chance, but one-third of them were still willing to put his leadership to a review. In addition to having some fences to mend, he's got to be able to prove his leadership abilities. It's a very safe bet, we think, that this second chance is going to be his last. After the next election, he's either going to be premier, or former leader.

York - Simcoe MPP Julia Munro was of the opinion Monday that the next election is winnable for the party, but it will be up to Tory to get the job done.

The party membership has spoken. If they want to be successful in october 2011, they have to get behind their man.

"People recognize they've had their say, and now it's time to move on," Munro said.