Next up is Norm Miller, representing the Ontario PC caucus. “John stepped down with his integrity intact…he worked harder and longer than any leader we’ve ever had.” “John Tory offered positive solutions…John Tory is a person of courage, compassion and integrity. No matter what he chooses to do next, Canada will be better off for it.” Finer words have not been spoken.

Bill Davis has taken the stage to pay tribute to John, and offer his advice for the party: “as part of the 42-years in power, there was still at the very root of the party, a sense that we had a very specific responsibility to look after those Ontarians who couldn’t look after themselves.” To those who aspire to the leadership – “we will go into the next election united and strong.”

JOHN TORY TRIBUTE – PART 2

Bill Davis: “I love this party.”

On John Tory: “he had the interests of the people of Ontario at heart. I think of very few individuals…he can live with himself because he believes in what he is doing and what he’s done – you will continue to serve the people of this city and this province. I will continue to refer to you as the finest premier Ontario never had.”

A touching moment.

JOHN TORY TRIBUTE – PART 2

John Tory thanked his family, friends – including Bill Davis – and party members in his speech. He said the Ontario PC party is at the very heart of society. He challenged all of us to maintain an open, growing and inclusive party. He said Job 1 has to be a united party coming out of this convention. “This party does well when it’s united.” Looking to the future, John said this is the party of Elliott AND Hillier AND Hudak AND Klees.  United and strong, we will win.

A good part of politics happens to be timing,” Hudak said during a phone interview, reflecting on his 80-day campaign to become leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party.

The 41-year-old politician has spent most of his adult life in public office. He was first elected in 1995 at the age of 27. Now, he’s the front-runner in the four-person race to replace John Tory, who resigned as party leader in March after failing to win a byelection in Lindsay. Tory ran there because he lost his own downtown Toronto seat in the 2007 general election.

A leadership campaign is a chance to put out where you, as a candidate, want to take the party and to run on your record as an MPP,” Hudak said.

The results of the leadership voting which took place earlier this week, will be announced riding-by-riding tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m.

A tribute to outgoing leader John Tory will happen during lunch tomorrow.

Second ballot results will begin to be rolled out at 2 p.m.

Subsequent ballots will be released should they be required, over the course of Saturday afternoon.

At the end of the day, our party will emerge with a new leader – united and focused on the only thing that matters: presenting a reasoned, tested, principled Progressive Conservative vision for an entirely new course for Ontario. Dalton McGuinty’s days as Premier are numbered. Each of the four candidates have proven that they have the ideas, the energy and the principled determination to defeat McGuinty & Co. in 2011.

The clock starts now.

I’m really looking forward to attending the convention. Tonight, the convention kicks off with a tribute reception for John Tory.

I was pretty harsh towards him after the last election and had even blogged about John Tory being called into Donald Trump’s boardroom.

However, I also remember that Tory did other things for the party, such as bringing it out of a massive $4.5M hole, so I expect we’ll all be getting a reminder of what a force he has been in the party over and above his public pursuits. I am looking forward to learning about it.

When the leadership race started I had hoped the race would focus on the bigger philosophical issues (red tory vs. blue tory) and I am glad it turned out that way.

When I first watched Hillier’s and Hudak’s launch events, I knew right away (pun intended) that I would be watching it carefully.

And a Hat Tip to all the bloggers and the campaign social media chairs. Well done. I’m sure you’re all suffering from sleep depravation and caffeine overdose. At least starting tomorrow you can substitute caffeine for BEvERages. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can tomorrow and Saturday.

I would like to congratulate everyone who took the time to participate and vote in the Ontario PC Leadership Race. I believe the campaigns from Frank Klees, Tim Hudak, Randy Hillier and Christine Elliott all played important roles in putting forward new ideas, recruiting new party members and putting us in a stronger position to defeat Dalton McGuinty in 2011. Although the leadership race was very short, I acknowledge that many people have put a lot of time into this leadership contest since John Tory was unfortunately defeated in the recent by-election in the riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock on March 5.

I have nothing but deep respect for all of the candidates who put their name forward in this process. I also have nothing but respect for the members who worked so hard to promote their preferred candidates.

The last few months of competition among Conservatives has been fun but the real work begins now. I think the party is much stronger because of this race but we must all work together to get our membership and support levels up to where they were a decade ago.

This weekend the results will be revealed at the convention in Markham. I think it is important as party members that we all go to the convention prepared to rally behind whoever is chosen by the grassroots who cast their votes on June 21 and June 25. On a personal level, I will be proud to support whoever wins and have nothing but respect for the four individuals who put their name forward in this contest.

I am also looking forward to the John Tory tribute where we can thank John for his efforts leading our party and hopefully convince him to run for mayor of Toronto against David Miller where his talents are most needed right now.

Recent polls show that after this weekend we still have a lot of work ahead of us as Progressive Conservatives. Dalton McGuinty is going to be a tough opponent in 2011 and it is important that we do not lose any time in preparing for the next election by failing to unite following this leadership race. The talents from all campaigns are going to be required to change government in 2011 and bring Ontario back to have status and prosperity.

Saturday of course we will all go into the convention rooting for our candidate of choice. Once the announcement is made, I encourage everyone to demonstrate unity and put their unconditional support behind whoever is elected. After Saturday, I am looking forward to working with my PC colleagues and friends on the real election that matters. We cannot afford another term of Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government. In order to bring change, we need all hands on deck. I look forward to connecting with members from all the leadership camps this weekend.

See you all in Markham!