The torch was passed — and Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak was on hand to help with the transition.
Retiring Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch officially endorsed Bill Walker as the candidate who will represent the Progressive Conservatives in the provincial election on October 6.
The occasion was a fundraising barbecue at the Baker farm west of Markdale on Sunday.
Murdoch is stepping down after 21 years at Queen’s Park and this event will help to pay for Walker’s campaign to fully replace Murdoch — that is, to keep the riding Tory Blue.
The party seems to understand it cannot take for granted that Bruce Grey Owen Sound will send a Conservative to the Legislature.
After all, the riding was held by Liberals for 27 years prior to Murdoch’s election in 1990.
Hudak tells Bayshore Broadcasting News he’s confident not only in Walker’s candidacy but also in the party’s chances to win a majority government and return to power for the first time since 2003.
He spoke about the PC platform, saying the party is not opposed to green energy, but it must be affordable to Ontarians.
Hudak slammed the Liberal government for approving a Green Energy Act that critics say takes away the ability of municipalities to have any meaningful input into industrial wind projects planned for their communities.
Hudak also vowed to review a Liberal proposal to close jails in Owen Sound, Walkerton and Sarnia in favour of moving prisoners to other facilities, such as the one in Penetanguishene.
He says it’s suspicious that the Liberals would plan to close these jails and build a new jail in Windsor, home to Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.
The party leader also reiterated a recent promise he has made to provide gas tax revenues to every municipality in the province.
Currently, only municipalities with public transit systems are eligible to receive this funding, but Hudak points out that, in rural Ontario, roads and bridges are public transit.
Others in attendance at the barbecue included former Premier Bill Davis, who governed Ontario from 1971 to 1985, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller, Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones and Huron-Bruce candidate Lisa Thompson.
