Tory

Tuesday September 10, 2013

Tuesday September 10, 2013

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 10, 2013

Peter Shurman fired as Tory finance critic over housing allowance

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak has fired his finance critic, Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, for taking a $20,719 housing allowance from taxpayers last year.

Shurman, a former talk radio host who represents a suburban riding bordering Toronto’s Steeles Ave., but moved to a $660,000 home in Niagara-on-the-Lake and claimed the allowance for an apartment near Queen’s Park where he stays while working at the legislature.

Hudak said in a statement Sunday night that controversy over the payout — which was not strictly against regulations — was becoming a distraction for his party and its message of respect for taxpayer dollars.

A source said Hudak’s meeting with Shurman to discuss the allowance Sunday turned into “a very heated exchange” with the leader asking his MPP to repay the housing allowance, which Shurman refused.

The source said Hudak was aware Shurman was moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake but did not know the Thornhill MPP was claiming the housing allowance.

Shurman declined to comment when asked about repayment.

The Conservatives — and in particular, Shurman, as finance critic — have been slamming the Liberal government for its $11.7-billion deficit and for spending $585 million to scrap power plants in Oakville and Mississauga before the 2011 election.

“While the current rules were followed, it is clear taxpayers hold elected officials to a higher standard and those rules need to be changed,” Hudak said Sunday after meeting with Shurman. (Source: Toronto Star)

Wednesday October 5, 2011

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday October 5, 2011 HarperÕs talk of Tory trifecta handicaps Hudak Stephen HarperÕs public musings about a Conservative hat trick Ð Tories ruling Ottawa, QueenÕs Park and TorontoÕs city hall Ð is more chilling than warming for Ontario Progressive Conservatives, new polling data suggests. Ditto for the high-profile endorsement by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty of PC chief Tim Hudak last week. ÒOntario voters have always shown a tendency to hedge their bets between the two senior levels of government,Ó EKOS Research pollster Frank Graves told The Globe. He noted that Bill Davis was Progressive Conservative premier during Pierre TrudeauÕs tenure, then there was Tory Mike Harris during the Jean ChrŽtienÕs time in government and now thereÕs Dalton McGuinty and Mr. Harper. The latest EKOS poll numbers suggest a strong Conservative majority in Ottawa ÒpredisposesÓ Ontarians not to vote for Mr. Hudak. In fact, about three to one Òlean to be less rather than more likely to vote Conservative,Ó Mr. Graves said. Released Monday, the EKOS survey gives the Liberals a seven point lead over the Tories Ð with 37.8 per cent support for Mr. McGuinty compared to 30. 6 per cent for Mr. Hudak. Andrea Horwath and her New Democrats are at 22.7 per cent. That tally is in contrast to the Nanos Research survey conducted for The Globe and Mail and CTV. It shows the Tories and Liberals locked in a dead heat, with 35.6 per cent support for Mr. McGuinty compared to 36.4 per cent for Mr. Hudak. (Source: Globe & Mail) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/harpers-talk-of-tory-trifecta-handicaps-hudak-pollster-says/article2188847/ Canada, Stephen Harper, Tim Hudak, Rob Ford, John Tory, Tory, Trumvirate, Trifecta, Conservative, PC, Ontario

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator –  Wednesday October 5, 2011

Harper’s talk of Tory trifecta handicaps Hudak

Stephen Harper’s public musings about a Conservative hat trick – Tories ruling Ottawa, Queen’s Park and Toronto’s city hall – is more chilling than warming for Ontario Progressive Conservatives, new polling data suggests.

Ditto for the high-profile endorsement by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty of PC chief Tim Hudak last week.

“Ontario voters have always shown a tendency to hedge their bets between the two senior levels of government,” EKOS Research pollster Frank Graves told The Globe.

He noted that Bill Davis was Progressive Conservative premier during Pierre Trudeau’s tenure, then there was Tory Mike Harris during the Jean Chrétien’s time in government and now there’s Dalton McGuinty and Mr. Harper.

The latest EKOS poll numbers suggest a strong Conservative majority in Ottawa “predisposes” Ontarians not to vote for Mr. Hudak. In fact, about three to one “lean to be less rather than more likely to vote Conservative,” Mr. Graves said.

Released Monday, the EKOS survey gives the Liberals a seven point lead over the Tories – with 37.8 per cent support for Mr. McGuinty compared to 30. 6 per cent for Mr. Hudak. Andrea Horwath and her New Democrats are at 22.7 per cent.

That tally is in contrast to the Nanos Research survey conducted for The Globe and Mail and CTV. It shows the Tories and Liberals locked in a dead heat, with 35.6 per cent support for Mr. McGuinty compared to 36.4 per cent for Mr. Hudak. (Source: Globe & Mail)