Written by Dave Gordon
TORONTO – With just less than a year to go before the next Ontario provincial election, topics of importance to the Jewish community were discussed by PC Party leader Tim Hudak at a recent fundraiser.
Hudak addressed 1,000 supporters at Thornhill’s Le Parc ballroom Nov. 24, at the party’s annual Leader’s Dinner.
“I am very concerned about the growing tide of antisemitism on our campuses and other areas of the province. We must stamp that out in all its forms,” Hudak told the Jewish Tribune.
According to recent census numbers, nearly half of the population of the residents of Thornhill, on the northern border of Toronto, are Jewish, and it was also the site of the dinner last year.
“I was very proud to stand by my colleague [Thornhill MPP] Peter Shurman,” Hudak continued, “who brought forward a resolution in the legislature condemning Israeli Apartheid [Week]. That is a repugnant concept, and I’m very pleased Peter’s motion caused the other parties to back that motion.”
Shurman’s riding contains one of the largest Jewish communities in Canada.
During the interview Hudak added that his trip to Israel in 2005 helped him see Israel’s security concerns clearer.
“What caught my eye was Israel’s defending its right to exist; [as I was] standing on the border of Lebanon, and seeing Hezbollah flags flying just meters away. It was extraordinarily alarming. I’ll do everything I can as leader to defend the state of Israel.”
While on the dais, Hudak lambasted Premier Dalton McGuinty for allowing Ontario to become a ‘have not’ province on his watch, with the province “accepting handouts from the federal government while other provinces recover and grow.”
According to Hudak, the premier is on course to double Ontario’s debt by 2012.
Knocking off one by one the complaints of Ontarians, Hudak promised to rectify what he believes are stifling taxes, poor leadership, a lack of jobs and the stuttering economy and problems with health care.
He continued his party’s stance of getting tough on crime.
“We’re embarrassed that criminals are released back on the streets before officers can even finish the paperwork,” he said.
The PC Party of Ontario – which currently holds 26 of 107 seats in the Ontario legislature, second to the Liberals’ 71 – will need to more than double its seats in the next election 10 months hence for Hudak to become premier.