Note: This article has been getting a lot of attention among Ontario Liberals in light of the note below about Tim Hudak and whether he is pro-life. In light of that, we checked back through our old emails from two years ago to verify what was written. The content was correct, but it should have clarified that the email came from Hudak's campaign team at that time, not Hudak himself.

By ARPA Canada (www.ARPACanada.ca)

We have been asked to provide more information about the contenders for the PC leadership race in Ontario. Here is what we have found. Please note that ARPA Canada does not promote or oppose any of these candidates nor the PC Party itself. We are strictly non-partisan. We urge Christians to get involved in public life and to apply their faith in the public square. But we ask you to make the choice of how this translates to your vote.  We welcome your input and additions to these findings. Email info@arpacanada.ca. [All photos for the candidates are from www.ontariopc.com].

Christine Elliott Campaign

Christine Ellitott currently serves as the MPP of Whitby-Oshawa. Prior to her life in politics, she started a law firm and practised real estate and corporate law. She is married to federal finance minister Jim Flaherty and they have three 18 year-old sons (triplets). Her passion is protecting the rights of the disabled, something which she has received numerous awards for.

Her campaign has received the support of numerous MP’s including Jeff Watson and Dave van Kesteren, who are known to ARPA groups in Ontario.

Where does she stand on policy? Her platform is not readily apparent. According to an Ottawa Citizen column, she is considered to represent the “political centre” and appeals more to the progressive wing of the party. The same column notes that “Elliott is reluctant to make firm policy statements and prefers to describe her ideas as "positions" that will be subject to amendment by a grassroots policy development process.” The Toronto Star reported that she is a supporter of gay rights. Campaign Life Coalition has reported that she is pro-abortion.

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Randy Hillier Campaign

Randy Hillier is also relatively new as an MPP. He was one of only three new seats for the Tories, winning the Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox & Addington riding in 2007. Hillier, who lives in the town of Perth, has been married for 26 years and has four children. He is an electrician and more recently was one of the founder of the Lanark Landowners Association which was formed to help rural Ontarians, specifically in response to over-regulation.

As for policy, Hillier calls himself a libertarian. If elected leader, he has committed himself to introducing legislation that would abolish the Ontario human rights commission and tribunal. “The Commission has shown that it is concerned not with actual human rights such as freedom of speech, association or religion; rather the opposite. It has shown an inherent bias against our rights, and instead works to promote special interests at the expense of our freedoms.”

Hillier has also pledged to introduce legislation that would protect the conscience rights of Ontarians. This is in response to same-sex “marriage” legislation as well as the pressure on doctors to perform services that they find morally objectionable.

Libertarian does not mean that he is necessarily pro-family and pro-life. REAL Women of Canada has noted that in fact he is not pro-life, though he is in support of defunding abortion. 

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Tim Hudak Campaign

Tim Hudak is viewed as the favourite to win of the four candidates, with the support of half of his caucus and many federal MP’s. He was elected as an MPP at age 27 and has held numerous high-profile roles in the party since.

Hudak and his wife and young daughter live in Wellandport. He has both a BA and MA in Economics. He describes his approach to government as “pragmatic and results driven” and his priority for the PC party is “to build the organization, motivate the membership, and fill the financial war chest our party will need to defeat Dalton McGuinty.”

Perhaps because of his reputation as a common-sense conservative, he is considered an heir to former PC leader Mike Harris. MP Jason Kenney is backing his leadership bid.

[See note at the top of this article] In an email to an ARPA Contact, a Hudak campaign spokesperson made it clear that he is pro-life and has signed petitions calling for abortion defunding and conscience legislation. The same email mentioned that he strongly agrees with conscience protection for health care workers. Added to this he has recently made it clear that the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal should be scrapped.

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Frank Klees Campaign

Frank Klees, a long-time member and MPP in the Progressive Conservative Party, is currently the MPP for Newmarket-Aurora. Early in his life his family immigrated to Canada from Germany. He started his career in business as a financial consultant and then co-founded Municipal Gas Corporation in 1990. Klees is married and has two adult children.

Klees takes credit for being part of the 1995 Harris government and says he has a reputation for “getting things done.” Particular policy statements are difficult to find, but his website does offer videos that give an indication of his stance on issues.

Interestingly, among these is video of a debate over his private member’s bill that would set aside a day in the year as Pope John Paul II day. Though himself a Protestant, he admired the Pope’s commitment to compassion and truth. 

REAL Women of Canada notes that he is openly pro-life and Christian. It adds that “he states that he will only support pro-life initiatives if he has the support of the PC caucus.” He has consistently responded to Campaign Life Coalition's questionnaire as pro-life and is said to be a "strong supporter of parental rights and conscience rights for health care workers" according to the same Campaign Life report.