Canadian Parliamentary Crisis III

[notyoueither]

When was he premier of Ontario?

[Asher]

Sorry, candidate for/leader of the Tories

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


I don't either. Could you clue me in on who John Tory is and why that article - which doesn't mention him at all - is related to him?

It was what was not said (and done) that was significant.

Tory was chosen leader of the C- party after our current Liberal premier (McGuinty) was elected. Tory took control of a party in disarray. After two successive majority governments under Harris the party was beaten badly by the Liberals (Ontario traditionally votes C-).

Tory didn't have a seat (came from the business world after the vote) but assured his Caucus he would run in a by-election to gain a seat before the next general election. Despite having a couple chances to do so, he chose not to (probably wouldn't have won the seats that were in play).

In the following general election Tory screwed his campaign with an awful policy promise that was made without the consultation of the party. The C's were left with a rural rump as they went down to defeat and McGuinty won a second majority. John Tory failed to win his own seat.

At a leadership convention following the election Tory received lukewarm party support (68% iirc). Rather than resign the leadership Tory has fought on and promised he will have a seat before the end of the year. He hears the knives being sharpened.

The problem for Tory (and the reason why it is interesting politically) is that he has few options to gain a seat. There have not been any by-elections to run in since the last vote so the only means left under our system is for an opportunity to be created. The traditional way this has happened has been for an elected party member in a "safe" seat to resign and allow the party leader to run in the ensuing by-election. The sacrificing member is usually rewarded with some sort of patronage at a later date...

Not one single member of Tory's caucus has offered their seat to the leader and none seem prepared to do so. Why? It is a reflection of the divide in the party. The elected members are rural and generally to the right of the party whereas Tory is a "red " Conservative from Toronto.

The problem the party now faces is the prospect of being a rump party forever. The only seats they can win are rural unless they can make gains in the city. John Tory was supposed to help with this but has not. Do they now replace him with a representative from the rump or do they continue to try to move to the centre in hopes of winning an election some day?

Harper could have saved Tory's skin by appointing one of the Ontario Conservative MP's to the Senate thereby creating a by-election in Ontario to fill the seat. Harper has friends among these MP's (he has a Federal party full of Harris refugees already) and had no shortage of appointments to make. Although by no means obligated to help the provincial wing of the party (they are not officially affiliated) they are Conservatives and Harper had an opportunity to save the provincial party from wandering in the wilderness forever. Tory's impending resignation will hurt them in the long run.

I don't consider myself a Conservative and don't personally care what happens to John Tory but it makes interesting politics.

[Asher]

It couldn't be more boring?

[Wezil]

I understand you have no interest (or knowledge) of the subject Asher. You have demonstrated that twice now. Stop embarrassing yourself.

Anyway, why aren't you *****ing about Harper and his impending spending orgy? Bailing out car companies and running 10's of billions of deficits.

[Kuciwalker]

Thanks, Wezil.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil
I understand you have no interest (or knowledge) of the subject Asher. You have demonstrated that twice now. Stop embarrassing yourself.

Ah, piss off. I misspoke because I had some scotch, you can kiss my ass and move on now.

John Tory is a nobody, the only reason he's in the paper is because stupid people keep pretending like it's interesting. It's not. He's a ****ing dumbass, he's inept. He's dead weight. He never, ever was interesting and it honestly bothers me that you blueball over the excitement that is John Tory when he puts me to ****ing sleep. Even his name bothers me.

Anyway, why aren't you *****ing about Harper and his impending spending orgy? Bailing out car companies and running 10's of billions of deficits.

Because I've already made it clear I think it's a ****ing waste. You clearly already know my position on it.

I also like how the CAW doesn't think they need to sacrifice a ****ing thing.

[Asher]

It doesn't help that I ****ing hate Ontario. Canadian politics are bad, but the worst of the bunch reside in Ontario. There's seriously something in the water in that province that reduces the collective IQ by about 30 points. Probably the smog and nuclear waste.

[Ben Kenobi]

In the long run the Cons in Ontario will be better off once they can dump Tory.

People will always vote for the real liberals over the faux liberals.

[Wezil]

Poor Asher.

Everybody looks while he waves his penis about (again).

Talk about boring

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
In the long run the Cons in Ontario will be better off once they can dump Tory.

People will always vote for the real liberals over the faux liberals.

That is the debate in the party.

A centrist position will play better in the larger urban centres but the hardcore party support is in the smaller cities and towns.

Tory failed to deliver urban seats in the last vote although in fairness to the party it is unclear how much was a factor of the party direction and how much was a reflection of Tory's disastrous faith school funding promise.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil
Poor Asher.

Everybody looks while he waves his penis about (again).

Talk about boring

You're the one obsessing about John Tory while the rest of the country has moved on.

[Wezil]

Yes, the topic you said was boring and holds no interest yet you just can't let go. Take a look at the last page Asher. 3 posters and myself commenting on it the topic and then there is you doing the typical Asher - "Look at me! Look at me!"

Pretty pathetic. Get a life Asher.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil
Yes, the topic you said was boring and holds no interest yet you just can't let go. Take a look at the last page Asher. 3 posters and myself commenting on it the topic and then there is you doing the typical Asher - "Look at me! Look at me!"

Pretty pathetic. Get a life Asher.

If you call 2 comments in a few days on Apolyton to be an interesting topic, 1 of which from a person who knows nothing about it and the other from Ben Kenobi, then you've got problems.

There was one comment in addition to this about John Tory from NYE that you skillfully avoided as well, which is just cute.

You've got a petulant axe to grind with Harper and sometimes you obsess over the most ridiculously small and insignificant facets of politics to do it.

[Kuciwalker]

Dude, for a topic you find boring you've managed to post a lot about it. FFS, if you don't find something interesting don't read it, don't act like a whiny little *****.