Hudak pleased to be at Hillier, in Hillier, with Hillier

Kemp Stewart, Gary Fox and Tim Hudak. Bill Samuel photo

By Bill Samuel
The Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Tim Hudak paid a visit to the Hillier Creek Estate Winery Thursday evening. With Randy Hillier MPP,  Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington in-tow, Hudak was greeted by a small group of party faithful including former MPP for Prince Edward, Gary Fox.
Hudak was first elected in1995 when the Tories swept to power under Mike Harris and the “Common Sense Revolution”. In 2009 Hudak was elected by his party to be its leader.
“I am pleased to be at Hillier (winery), in Hillier with (Randy) Hillier,” quipped Hudak.
Friendly and relaxed as he spoke, he quickly set to attacking the current Liberal government in Ontario. The policies for education, health care and the increase in taxes and hydro rates were all questioned. Ontario’s shift from being a “have” province that led the Canadian economy to one heavily burdened with debt were concerns noted.
“Here is the happy news my friends,” said Hudak. “There are only 440 days left until the next provincial election.”
Under Hudak’s leadership, the Progressive Conservatives have surged in the polls as of late.

Tim Hudak

“I am hearing a growing frustration from Ontario’s families,” said Hudak. “The Conservative party is putting forward ideas to create jobs, lower the tax burden on families and reduce the growing bureaucracy and putting the money back into front-line services.”
The Conservatives are promising to table a new set of policies in the near future.
“There has been an extraordinary growth in red-tape and regulation that is strangling business and chasing entrepreneurs out of the province,” he said. “We have called for a freeze on all job-killing regulations until we bring a red-tape commission to lower the overall burden on businesses to create jobs again.”
Hudak supports the development reliable and affordable energy. He wants concentration on developing hydro electric capabilities and nuclear energy to address this need and says continuing difficulties with cross-border commerce is an item  Ontario should be taking leadership on.
His comments were well received and he challenged all in attendance to sign-up five friends to the Conservative Party of Ontario.
Kemp Stewart, owner of Hillier Creek Estates, thanked Hudak and the riding association for choosing Hillier Estates for the event and presented Hudak with a bottle of their award winning wine.
“I can’t wait for you to be premier.” said Stewart.
The event was sponsored by the Prince Edward-Hastings Riding Association.