Speech from Interim Ontario PC Leader Vic Fedeli
The last 10 days have been unprecedented in Ontario’s politics. No one will question that it has been a difficult time for our Party. But we are now ready to turn the page.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan, always the optimist, responded to Jimmy Carter who was lamenting a malaise in their country by boldly stating that it was “morning in America”.
Today, it’s morning in the PC Party.
We are now ready to move on from focusing on any one individual – and to focus on the task at hand. And that task is defeating Kathleen Wynne.
What we have seen in recent days from my colleagues in our Party has impressed me. We have seen strength in adversity. We have four strong candidates for Leader. One of them will lead us into the next election, and become Ontario’s next premier.
I would be proud to serve with any of them. And we will do everything in our power to ensure they are elected Premier.
My colleagues in caucus, while supporting different candidates, have always shown unity. That fills me with pride.
The team of volunteers organizing the shortest leadership race in Canadian political history have made exceptional progress. And we are almost at the finish line. Only 11 more days.
Our fundraising and volunteer recruitment is the strongest we have seen in a long time. And the four leadership candidates have focused on policy, and on their vision for Ontario, while refraining from personal attacks. Because each one of them believes in putting the Party, and the Province, ahead of themselves.
Families need a PC Party who will offer a fresh alternative to the tired, untrustworthy, politically corrupt Wynne Liberals. And together, today, we are moving forward.
There are few better examples of the political corruption of the Liberals than their takeover of the home care industry for the sole benefit of a key ally, the Service Employees International Union, the SEIU. Their “cozy ties” to the Ontario Liberal Party are well-documented.
SEIU has donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Ontario Liberal Party. SEIU has openly campaigned for the Ontario Liberals in by-elections. And, one of SEIU’s senior staffers is the former Party President of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Now, in exchange for reduced service and increased costs for families, the SEIU is doing the Liberals’ political dirty work. This is a cynical, self-interested government like we have never seen before in this country.
Today, we are repeating calls for Kathleen Wynne to release all the details regarding meetings between the SEIU and Liberal officials. Kathleen Wynne tried to hide the announcement of this major new home care agency – at the bottom of a press release – because it makes no sense.
The Auditor General has been clear that this will not help patient care.
The people of Ontario deserve answers. They deserve better than an “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” culture of politics. That is what got us the gas plants scandal. And while the justice system has taken its course, no verdict will return the billion dollars the Liberal government wasted just to win seats in an election.