Combination of future-focused policy, solid experience and electability makes her the best choice to lead Ontario Liberals
I was honoured to be elected as one of only 42 independent delegates province-wide to represent my riding at the Ontario Liberal Leadership convention this weekend. That means I was not elected as part of a slate supporting a candidate. As an independent, I can vote for whoever I like on the first ballot.
While it is clear that Steve Del Duca is going into the convention with more elected delegates than any other leadership candidate, the election is not over before the voting begins. That’s because, in addition to the 42 elected independent delegates, there are over 600 non-elected ex-officio delegates who are eligible to vote. Ex-officio delegates include MPPs, federal Ontario MPs, riding association officials, some party officials, and immediate past candidates. You can bet they have all been getting calls from leadership candidates.
It was perhaps a natural expression of exuberance that the Del Duca campaign essentially declared victory after the Leadership Election Meetings (LEMs) that selected the elected delegates. A first-ballot victory seems likely, but not assured. I am certain it was not a deliberate strategy to declare victory and thereby dissuade some delegates from attending the convention. However, I have heard anecdotally that is exactly what has happened. If it is a foregone conclusion, why spend the time and money to attend?
I admit even I struggled with that a bit, but in the end, I decided I was elected by my fellow local Liberals to attend and cast my ballot, so that is what I will do. I also determined to vote the way I thought best, ignoring the preliminary results. I figure, if you want to see a coronation, watch The Crown on Netflix.
Mitzie Hunter visited our rural, southwestern Ontario riding of Haldimand-Norfolk on a grey and rainy Saturday morning in February. (Steve Del Duca also visited our riding and Michael Coteau visited twice.) A local restaurant with a Liberal-friendly owner in Simcoe, in Norfolk County, opened early to accommodate the visit. About 20 local Liberals - farmers, some businesspeople, some who work in health care, some retired teachers – in other words, textbook grassroots Libeerals, gathered to meet with Mitzie.
The rain had knocked out the electricity but somehow made the gathering more intimate and we huddled together near the front window to take advantage of the natural light.
Mitzie spoke at length in an unrehearsed manner. She also took notes on what people were telling her about the party and the province.
The local people were impressed that Mitzie spoke honestly about the challenge of campaigning across the entire province. She spoke about her career before entering politics managing large organizations. She spoke about coming to Canada with her family when she was a young girl and how while she was growing up her father drove a truck and her mother worked shifts in an auto parts plant. She spoke about her path to politics and her experience in the legislature and in cabinet as a minister She spoke about how she was grateful to have squeaked in with a hard-fought victory in the last election. And she talked about her plans to rebuild the Liberal party and for the province as a whole.
The local people told me later that they were impressed that she had done significant things before entering politics. They liked hearing about her family background as immigrants to Canada and how she personified the value of working hard to get ahead.
I personally have known Mitzie for several years but I was not aware of her family background. I could visualize her riding in her father’s truck as a young girl and her mother rushing home from her shift in a plant to prepare dinner for the family. I also liked what she said about her approach as Minister of Education, that she always erred on the side of picking up the phone to talk to stakeholders when formulating a policy. Also, I liked her practice of visiting one school a week, the equivalent of walking the shop floor, which telegraphs to people in the sector that she cares.
Mitzie talked honestly about the considerable financial challenge of mounting a campaign. Unprompted, several people present broke out their cheque books and donated to her campaign on the spot.
Michael Coteau is a close second in my estimation. I like his future-oriented approach and his honesty and candor when he speaks. It was a tough choice for me between him and Mitzie. On balance my personal preference is for a woman leader because I believe it brings a fresh perspective that is helpful in both rebuilding the party and governing the province.
Mitzie and Michael both have the advantage of already being in the legislature. I think it is necessary to prosecute the case against the government in the legislature as well as work the church basements and town halls of the province. You need both.
Steve Del Duca is an experienced former MPP and cabinet member who has shown that he can build an organization and raise money. However, it is unfortunate that he lost his seat in the last election and despite his skills his path back into the legislature is by no means assured. Not that it is assured for anyone. The reset switch is hit at every election. However I feel it is important for our leader to have a seat in the legislature in the run up to the next election,
Kate Graham proved herself to be an able campaigner and presented a fresh approach to which people really responded. However, the fact is that she has no elected experience. Being leader of the party is not a recommended position for on-the-job training. It is an unforgiving position to be in and it helps to know what to say and do starting on Day 1.
Alvin Tedjo, who also has never elected office, made a bold gambit pledging to merge the public and Catholic school systems. Politics is the art of the possible. To ask us to accept that he will simultaneously rebuild the party, form a government, and remake the school system takes us to far out of the realm of possible.
Brenda Hollingsworth made a very positive impression; however, her campaign was hampered by a late start due to her obligations in her legal practice. That and the lack of elected experience made her candidacy a challenge. However, she presented very well and was a good candidate.
The truth is all the candidates have compelling qualities and any one of them would be better Premier than the incumbent. But I can only vote for one candidate on the first ballot.
Both my heart and my head tells me to vote for Mitzie Hunter as the best choice for the party and for Ontario.