…I met him years ago. It was shortly after the 2004 Federal Election. It was an event put on by Peter Van Loan, who was not yet a Minister or even sworn in as an MP.
I remember that he was an honest man. I talked to him briefly at that Shoeless Joes and I was impressed by him. He said things that I liked and wanted to hear. He said that being a conservative did not mean confrontation. The bloody battles of Mike Harris were over and the foolishness of Ernie Eves was well in the past. It was time for a new day, John Tory would lead the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
I remember he said he could win a seat in Toronto.
I remember the campaign. It was exciting and fun. I met many new people and made a few of what I hope will be life long friends. There was an energy in the air; a spirit of optimism about where this party was going. We needed that after everyone’s least favourite Ernie had done his best to destroy the party.
I remember the convention. It was long and boring and Rob Allan almost burst my ear drum with his whistling. Yet we won and it was fantastic. Even to this day, though things are hardly the same, I still think of that celebration with a smile. Yes it was me who threw up in the toilet.
I remember the Niagara Falls convention. It was obvious at this point that we had made the right choice in our leader. The party was back. The debt was being wiped out faster than anyone thought possible. We were strong again and looking foreword to growing stronger. Even Flaherty supporters sheepishly admitted that Tory had not been a disaster.
I remember that it was there that the first seed of warning appeared. It was here that the party began to say, “We cannot announce the policy because the Liberals would steal that policy.” So what? If our policies are implemented doesn’t that mean we won? But no one said that too loudly. It was an optimistic time.
I remember my faith in John Tory being eaten away. I cannot say that there was one thing in particular that did it. I don’t think I even realized it was happening at the time. I did not know what he stood for. But the clues were there. He seamed never to object to what Dalton was doing merely objecting to the specifics of how he was doing it. It became apparent that his philosophy to government was not all that different from the Liberal Premier.
I remember that the whole focus of the party, even then, was about him and him being leader. We were no longer the Progressive Conservatives but we were John Tory’s PCs. I was a member of John Tory’s PC Party and I did not recall having signed up to such an organization. It was like we were pretending not to be conservative. Candidates in bi-elections were told to run away from the Harris legacy. We abandoned you Harris and now it is only history that can vindicate you.
I remember when my faith broke. It was at the Campus Conservative convention of 2007. He stood in front of the most right wing members of the party. If there was a place to be a fire breathing conservative it was in that room. Instead he spoke to us about autism and the immoral illegal health tax that would be phased out in four years. Is that why you wanted to be Premier John? To help kids with autism and give small tax cuts?
I remember that at that convention I predicted he would only win 31 seats in the election.
I remember when he announced the policy. I remember walking into that giant hall thinking to myself, “He can win me back. Just give me something John, anything and I will follow you.” Instead he forced the most conservative MPPs to read out the Communist Manifesto; Increased spending with no real tax cuts; Increased regulations with no shrinking of the government; and of course bringing fairness to the faith based schools.
I remember complaining that I would not vote for the PCs. I said that I would not work for them I would give them no aide in what I saw as a worthless fight. I was only grumbling and showing my discontent. I felt betrayed by Tory and by Tories. This was not the leader or the party I wanted. I felt like I had been tricked and I felt foolish.
I remember that I did work on the campaign and I did vote for the PCs. I did so because I still believed in the party and I still knew that John Tory was a good man. He would make a decent Premier or at the very least a better Premier. And you never know, perhaps I, or liked minded individuals, would have been able to influence his thinking and push him towards our own views.
I remember that we lost as bad as Ernie Eves.
I remember that you told as that Leadership Mattered.
I remember that you told us you could win in 4 years not in 8.
I promise you, Mr. Tory, that all this I will remember in February and all this I will remind my comrades in the party.
So take some friendly advice. Tomorrow at your press conference, announce that you wish to spend time with the grandchild that is now on its way. Say that you fought hard to renew the party and we are in better shape then we were four years ago, which is true.
And then say you are leaving.
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