Straight Thoughts

By-election results disastrous for Tory

The by-election results for the March 5, 2009 by-election in the riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock show big victory for the Liberal candidate and a big loss for the PCs (John Tory) and the NDP (going from 11.92% in 2007 to 5.98% and ranking only fourth, behind the Green party).

All the parties represented in the by-election, with the exception of the Liberal and the FCP, saw their percentages decrease with respect to the 2007 election, as people voted for (or against) the perceived winner. This important by-election also attracted two independents and a Libertarian candidate.

We thank our candidate, Jake Pothaar, for a job well done. The FCP did not "cause" the defeat of John Tory, but his defeat is an indication of Mr. Tory's liberal stand on many issues. After losing his own riding in two successive elections, John Tory's leadership of the Progressive Conservative party of Ontario is now in serious doubt.

Whenever conservatives federally or provincially, run a "light liberal" candidate (a.k.a. a "red tory" candidate) the electorate consistently chooses the real liberal candidate. Why should they not?

The PC party should stick to its TRUE "traditional liberal" roots, which expressed the values of life, freedom and ownership of property. While there is little chance for the PC to reform itself, the Family Coalition party is the only party in Ontario expressing those values. Please help other conservatives to discover the FCP as the alternative.