HALIBURTON-Haliburton area resident Jan Woods has a long history supporting the Mulroney family. “I was a delegate for her father back in the 80’s. We had gone to Ottawa I had done some work for Mila, I had gone to Mila’s office and she said take the kids over to meet Brian and the kids.” Jan Woods told Kawartha 411.
Woods and her husband Chris brought a photo of that meeting with them today to the Legion in Haliburton. They were there to support Caroline Mulroney and to hear her ideas for the future of the Provincial PC Party. “She’s the only one who’s really presented any policies and I must admit none of the others have. We’ve had experience with some of the others and we need somebody fresh and new and bright and with new ideas, I think we are seeing that here today.” Chris Woods said.
Former Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown resigned amid allegations of sexual impropriety. He later threw his hat back in the ring but dropped out of the race again days later. Mulroney is one of four people vying for the job.
About 60 people were on hand at the event in Haliburton. Mulroney presented 5 of the top priorities that she will tackle if she is elected the new leader of the party and subsequently Premier. “I think that it’s very important that you, the members of the party get to hear directly from your candidates about what they care about and what they stand for.” Mulroney said.
“They are party platform policies that I support but ones that I belive we can do better.”
The first priority she outlined was to support Ontario families by adding 30,000 quality childcare spaces and improve the adoption system. “I am committed also to building a better adoption system to fight for kids who are currently lost in the system that we have because to me, family comes first.”
She would also work to restore the confidence of members of the PC Party. “We must reform and reinvigorate our party.” She said she would put the checks and balances in place so that the party would be seen to be ready to lead the province.
Mulroney said she would lower taxes by almost twenty five percent. “This is why I want to do this and this is why we must win.”
Seniors and a lack of Long Term Care beds are also on Mulroney’s radar. “We have a sacred duty to support them and it’s a duty that Kathleen Wynne has been failing, its a duty that I plan to uphold.” The current party platform calls for an additional 15,000 beds in Long Term Care but Mulroney says she will double that, adding 30,000. She would also expand the caregiver tax credit.
Finally Mulroney says she will get people working. “There has been no greater failure by Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals than her dismal record on jobs.”
The leadership hopeful also touched on the hot button issue of rising hydro rates. “We’ve got to deliver relief in the short term to the people who are paying too much for hydro so we’ve got to reduce rates right away.” Mulroney said. “One way to do that is to rebate the dividend from Hydro One, the money the province gets from hydro one, back to rate payers.” She also says she plans on scrapping the Green Energy Act.
Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Brock MPP Laurie Scott has thrown her support behind Christine Elliott but that didn’t seem to phase Mulroney. “Everybody makes their choices, when I’m leader I look forward to working with her closely toward our common goal of defeating Kathleen Wynne.”
The last time the PC party won an election was almost 19 years ago. “We have been in opposition for almost 15 years, the ways of the past have not worked. Thats why when I talk about doing some thing new and different it is meaningful, it is very important that we do this because too many Ontarians are counting on us. We’ve got to win.”
“I hope she wins.” Chris Woods said with a smile as he was leaving the Legion.
