“Shortcomings”

A cute little write-up appears in today’s Toronto Star following up on that paper’s breaking story yesterday that another group, known as Grassroots PC, has formed to encourage party members to vote YES at the upcoming leadership review in London later in February. This is on top of another group, Draft A Leader, and former Harris Minister/Sun columnist John Snobelen, all calling for John Tory’s replacement with a fresh leader with new ideas and a better management style.

The article highlights what is most concerning about John Tory, the man. Namely, at the same time that he’s talking about “taking responsibility”, he’s also passing the buck to those who served in his office. Even if we took this at face value and gave John the benefit of the doubt, it doesn’t explain why he did such a poor job of distinguishing the PC brand during the debate when he had no handlers, no aids and no supporters propping him up. It also doesn’t explain why he wasn’t able to address the concerns that a Sarnia woman asked him (and all of us, PC and unwashed heathens alike!) mid campaign and which he didn’t answer.

And so Mr. Tory, since you only like attacking (whether it be us who don’t support your leadership, Dalton McGuinty, etc) and not answering, I publicly challenge you to participate in a debate which can be televised online and which can serve as a forum for PC Party members to address the issues with you since you have not been doing this effectively in the tour you have been on for the past three months and whose only purpose is to help you keep your job. Furthermore, I strongly urge you to hold this no later than by next Wednesday, January 16 so that those voting in DSMs across the province might have an informed decision. I’m sure there are quite a few of us awaiting your response…