Politics Tim Hudak

1 politics

1.1 political career
1.2 1999 election
1.3 2003 election
1.4 2007 election
1.5 party leadership
1.6 official opposition
1.7 2011 election
1.8 2014 election , resignation
1.9 backbench mpp
1.10 political views

politics
early political career

hudak ran in provincial election of 1995 in riding of niagara south. defeated liberal aubrey foley 1,081 votes. aged 27, hudak second-youngest member of provincial parliament (mpp) elected in 1995, youngest being john baird.

the progressive conservatives won majority government under mike harris, , hudak appointed parliamentary assistant minister of health jim wilson. later served parliamentary assistant wilson s successor, elizabeth witmer.

1999 election

hudak re-elected 5,878 vote margin in redistributed riding of erie—lincoln in 1999 provincial election, , named minister of northern development , mines on june 17, 1999. part of party s provincial mandate , environmental program, mr. hudak voted enact drive clean program.

on february 8, 2001, named minister of culture, tourism , recreation. tourism minister, hudak visited 101 festivals , events across ontario in summer of 2001 on more discover tour. following september 11 attacks in 2001, hudak called leaders in tourism industry , executed plan provided $14 million marketing industry recover. during time in ministry, awarded $300 million rebuild aging infrastructure in communities across province through superbuild s sports, culture , tourism partnership fund.

he supported jim flaherty s unsuccessful bid become party leader in 2002. on april 15, 2002, new premier ernie eves appointed him minister of consumer , business services.

2003 election

the tories lost provincial election of 2003, although hudak re-elected margin of 4,058 votes. appointed pc caucus chair , critic responsible public infrastructure renewal, , later elevated role of critic both municipal affairs , housing , public infrastructure renewal. hudak again supported jim flaherty s bid become party leader in 2004 pc leadership election. in august 2005, pc leader john tory appointed hudak lead role of official opposition finance critic.

2007 election

although tories lost 2007 ontario election, hudak won riding 10,022 vote margin, gaining 51% of popular vote. in opposition, introduced bill create new retail system ontario vintners quality alliance wines in competition provincial distribution system. proposed bill restrict residential property assessment increases modeled on similar acts in florida, michigan, , nova scotia.

party leadership

on april 2, 2009, hudak launched campaign leadership of progressive conservative party. considered many frontrunner in race, hudak had secured support of on half caucus @ launch of campaign. hudak endorsed federal conservative cabinet ministers john baird , tony clement, had served alongside him in cabinets of harris , eves. during campaign, hudak quoted saying if pcs want regain government, have make inroads in major cities , begin reaching out new canadian communities.... want make sure next wave of new canadians – whether czech republic or india or china – see ontario pc party home. .

the leader chosen preferential ballot on june 27, 2009, in markham, ontario. hudak placed first out of 4 candidates defeating frank klees, christine elliott, , randy hillier. on july 1, assumed position leader of opposition.

official opposition

in august 2009, shortly after taking power, hudak criticized ontario lottery , gaming corporation (olg) after string of controversies. government had forced resignation of several board members and, according canadian broadcaster ctv, hudak suggested government trying pre-empt ehealth-like scandal, , promised party shine light on liberal misspending. following hudak s opposition, ontario finance minister dwight duncan fired corporation s ceo, kelly mcdougald, cause . canadian broadcasting corporation (cbc) reported freedom-of-information request hudak s tories behind shakeup. according hudak, liberals knew coming in opening session of legislature, [so they] put out today head off scandal.... re not going stop scandalous spending until [premier dalton] mcguinty sets tone firing 1 of ministers.

on september 10, 2009, hudak delivered first major speech party leader economic club of canada. in speech, hudak attacked liberals unnecessary spending @ ehealth , olg, giving $263-million grant video game developer.

on october 19, 2009, hudak launched petition support new west lincoln memorial hospital (wlmh) in west niagara. petition called on mcguinty government minister of health stop hamilton-niagara-haldimand-brant local health integration network delaying construction of new hospital.

hudak speaking outside queen s park pc candidates

in midst of fall 2009 legislative session, hudak launched 1 of first major platform pieces, pc caucus small business jobs plan, stated essential ontario s economic recovery. during fall of 2009, hudak , party ramped opposition harmonized sales tax (hst). hst, came effect july 1, 2010, blended previous 8 per cent provincial sales tax 5 per cent goods , services tax (gst).

by end of 2009, polls indicated under hudak s leadership, ontario pc party jumped distant second double-digit lead. party’s first year under hudak’s leadership wrapped conservative’s northern ontario jobs plan, plan restore jobs , economic growth ontario’s vast north. big picture here [when] developing economies china , india grow, , american economy rebounds, there massive appetite ontario’s wood products , minerals , other resources , hudak said.

hudak criticized mcguinty’s government’s approach on ontario s nuclear industry. in line plan north, hudak commented “reducing northern ontario s high energy costs key making industries there more profitable , preventing future mill closures.”

in march 2010 by-elections, tories retained retired mpp bob runciman s riding of leeds-grenville, boosting support 19 points 67 per cent of vote. party lost second race in ottawa west-nepean former ottawa mayor , former mpp bob chiarelli, although improved showing on results of 2007 election. in third by-election held in toronto centre on same day, progressive conservative candidate came in third fifteen percent of vote.

later in april, hudak , ontario pc party focused question period on local health integrated network (lhin), system of regional health authorities established mcguinty government. offering examples of sole-sourced contracting, hudak hammered government broken promises , removing money front-line care. said amount of money paid out in six-figure salaries lhin executives , managers had doubled since 2006, , promised dissolve lhins if win ontario general election in 2011.

on canada day, 2010, controversial harmonized sales tax (hst) came effect across province of ontario. tim hudak responded saying, “dalton mcguinty best, raising taxes on hard-working families. people feel @ first @ pumps overnight. next hit on utility bills.

hudak vowed eliminate eco-tax, fee on environmentally harmful products brought in mcguinty, if elected premier.

in august 2010, ontario ombudsman andré marin exposed bylaw enables local health bureaucrats hold closed-door meetings on hospital closures. controversial decisions on hospital restructuring in niagara-area health unit open judicial review due use of bylaw hamilton niagara haldimand brant local health integration network. in response marin s report, hudak committed abolish lhins , redirect $200 million in savings health system.

on may 26, 2011, hudak proposed highly controversial plan implement mandatory street-cleaning work gangs made of provincial inmates, replacing current voluntary programs. program described modern-day chain gangs hudak s critics, pointed out such program costly implement , pose significant security risks public, along eliminating these entry-level jobs paid workforce.

a nanos research poll released on august 16, 2011 found fewer 1 in 4 voters describe hudak trustworthy leader. among women, number 1 in five.

hudak faced criticism party members after progressive conservatives won 1 out of 5 seats being contested in series of by-elections on august 1, 2013. 10 party members petitioned party allow leadership review @ party s policy convention in fall , 2 mpps, frank klees , randy hillier, have called on hudak allow review proceed.

in april 2014, hudak , fellow mpp lisa macleod being sued libel ontario premier kathleen wynne saying “oversaw , possibly ordered criminal destruction of [gas plant] documents.” wynne denies had knowledge or involvement of allegations made. hudak , pc face subsequent lawsuit on statements made on website brought forward working families coalition. group has funded attack ads (with union financial backing), , been accused pc party of supporting liberal party.

2011 election

hudak s progressive conservatives consistently led in public opinion polls months leading october 6, 2011, provincial election. however, time writ dropped election party s lead had begun shrink. liberal party made gains in polling during election campaign , on election night won minority government, 1 seat shy of majority government. liberals took 53 seats, tories won 37 , ndp took 17 seats.

2014 election , resignation

following party s defeat in 2011 election, hudak invited tom long, leslie noble , other architects of party s 1995 victory design campaign following election. hudak s conservatives ran on platform promising create million jobs , reduce public service 100,000 jobs through attrition - resulting in math being challenged other parties , various analysts.

hudak won niagara west-glanbrook seat while party lost 10 seats. after election, several conservative mpps said had not known hudak s million job plan ahead of time , criticized hudak not consulting caucus election platform running on. hudak announced resign leader of progressive conservative party after losing kathleen wynne s liberals, secured majority government, said continue mpp.

hudak did not take position in official opposition shadow cabinet named interim successor, jim wilson.

backbench mpp

in october 2015, hudak tabled private member s bill legalize ride-sharing services uber, home-sharing services airbnb, , parking-sharing services rover @ provincial level , provincial regulatory standards.

hudak announced on august 9, 2016 resigning seat in ontario legislature, effective september 16, 2016, become chief executive officer of ontario real estate association.

political views

numerous pundits have labelled hudak blue tory on right-wing of pc party of ontario, though hudak has called himself purple tory . has proposed income splitting young couples , families, , campaigned scrap human rights tribunal of ontario, replacing courts-based system of settling complaints. hudak s wife, deb hutton, senior adviser mike harris, , seen new standard-bearer mike harris common sense revolution.

when running pc leadership in 2009, hudak told association reformed political action pro-life , had signed petitions calling defunding of abortions. however, on july 18, 2011, during lead-up october 6 provincial election, hudak stated may have signed petitions calling end abortion funding. refused answer follow-up questions media regarding views on abortion, promised not reopen abortion debate if elected premier.

in december 2012, hudak announced if form government allow beer, wine , spirits sold @ corner stores throughout province. hudak said sell part of liquor control board of ontario or of stores private sector , open idea of full sell-off of lcbo. although mcguinty government had rejected idea of selling alcohol in corner stores in summer of 2012, weeks after hudak s announcement, launched pilot project allow alcohol sold in supermarkets.

in april 2013, hudak met national post s editorial board discuss education issues in ontario. among other things, asked ontario s publicly funded roman catholic school system, operates in parallel public system. hudak stated parents other religions or denominations have legitimate concerns .