Mulroney offers calm amidst chaotic PC race

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — A poised and professional Caroline Mulroney presented well to Parry Sound-Muskoka Progressive Conservatives Monday morning.

The lawyer and leadership candidate, introduced by MPP Norm Miller and MP Tony Clement, was welcomed warmly and respectfully by more than 100 mostly party members at the Quality Inn.

For a party in chaos, her calm, businesslike approach was a relief for the traditional Tories in the rooms.

And measure of confidence to Larry Moody, of Bracebridge.

He hadn’t made his mind up on who to vote for this week.

Until he was reassured by her visit and speech.

“It solidified my position,” said the retiree, who said he wasn’t sure until now, after previous campaign literature from Mulroney left him unsure.

He called her “a quick study.”

His friend, George Robbins also of Bracebridge, who’s not a party member and not eligible to vote, was equally impressed.

He likes her because she offers “the best of the old new” in the party.

Mulroney got her largest applause early, when she said she supported two hospitals in Muskoka, words also well received in the room by Huntsville Mayor Scott Aichison and Bracebridge Mayor Graydon, who have spoken personally to her lobbying for her support.

Most in the crowd who ventured to voice an opinion appeared to like what they saw.

They called her the future of a party in throes of profound change.

Old guard who’ve never seen a woman break the Big Blue Machine’s glass ceiling at the provincial Trillium level.

A room more familiar with names like Brown, Hudak, Tory, Eves, Runciman, Brandt, Harris and most fondly Davis.

And, of course, beloved Frank Miller, their long-serving MPP and short-lived premier.

Miller’s son, Norm, who helped introduce Mulroney, said she represents the future of the party.

“She’s 43 and she can be premier for a long time.”

Miller, who admitted he’d already voted, said after: “I can tell you now — I voted for her as my first choice and Christine (Elliott) as my second choice.

“It was a tough decision, I know and like them both.”

Miller supported Elliott in the last leadership race won by departed leader Patrick Brown.

Mulroney said Miller spent two-and-a-half days last week escorting around some other Northern Ontario ridings.

Clement, who toyed with running himself (and did years ago) and is now her co-campaign chair, was in full agreement about it being a time to move on from the past.

A sentiment Mulroney offered herself in a 15-minute speech.

And reiterated in her campaign motto ‘New and Different.’

A tad odd, if not uncomfortable, in room filled with the grey-haired Tory stalwarts of the past who came out to embrace a political newbie into their midst.

They remember when winning was easy in Ontario — and their last electoral victory “19 years ago.”

But Mulroney did say she, too, has been a longtime Conservative, without mentioning her father, Brian, was once prime minister.

Many clearly did remember her dad: “And I remember you growing up,” at least one couple gushed.

The married mother of four did say at one point “… family comes first” for her, in reference to her social policies on policy plans like child care and elder care.

While she respects the glory days, she says the PCs need new blood and the change she can bring.

Definitely, internally.

However, this day was about moving ahead and defeating Liberal Kathleen Wynne, who described as a terrible premier.

Mulroney reiterated her top five priorities: 30,000 quality day-care spaces; rebuilding the party; lowering taxes to make it more affordable for Ontarians; security for seniors (15,000 more long-term care beds) and hospice space; and better real jobs and skilled training.

She said Wynne has done a terrible job creating jobs.

That business needs to be stronger and like everyone deserves better, cheaper hydro rates.

With only fives days to vote, Mulroney called for their votes.

Clement and Miller suggested the two would even accept second-ranked votes in the run-up to Saturday’s leader announcement, in the race with Doug Ford, Elliott and Tanya Granic Allen.

Ford spoke in Bala, Bracebridge and Huntsville last week. The other two candidates have not been in the riding or have any meetings scheduled this week.

See more on Mulroney’s visit this week at www.muskokatoday.com