Mulroney made campaign stop in Caledon last week

March 14, 2018 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
It was the dying hours of the campaign, but Caroline Mulroney brought her quest for the Ontario Progressive leadership to Caledon last Thursday.
There was an enthusiastic crowd out to greet her at the Caledon Estates Banquet Hall.
Palgrave resident Derek Clark, a member of the board of the Dufferin-Caledon Progressive Conservative Riding Association, acknowledged it was a “very short campaign period.”
“Only one leadership candidate has come to Caledon,” he added, referring to Mulroney.
Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones as on hand for the event, although she stressed that was not an endorsement of Mulroney’s candidacy.
“I’ve stayed neutral so far,” she observed. “I’m staying neutral.”
She added she thought she had an obligation to be on hand, since the candidate was visiting her riding.
“Here in Dufferin-Caledon, we truly believe we are the centre of the universe,” Jones told the crowd.
Mulroney had praise for Jones, commenting that she represents her riding with great distinction. And as deputy leader, she’s been a force in the party.
Mulroney said the local stop was great opportunity for her to increase her profile, although she admitted she benefits from some name recognition.
“I’m Ben Mulroney’s sister,” she observed.
“It’s time to be bold,” she declared, agreeing she’s new to political life, having only secured the PC nomination in York-Simcoe. “It’s time to be fresh.”
She also said she was anxious to start a new chapter for the party, and was looking forward to sitting with Jones at Queen’s Park, no matter what happened in the leadership race.
“Our party is strong and we’re ready to win,” she declared.
She added she had been knocking on doors and hearing a consistent message.
“Voters are desperate for change at Queen’s Park,” she remarked, citing poll numbers that had been published that day that indicated 81 per cent wanted to see change. “More Ontarians than ever are ready to vote PC.”
Mulroney stressed the need to give leadership people can trust.
She pointed to the example of Premier Kathleen Wynne who has been mortgaging the future of the coming generation. “The Liberals have spent 15 years digging us into quite a hole,” she observed, adding it will take a while to get out of the hole.
“We have got to win,” she told the faithful. “We have got to bring change.”
“I am ready to be that leader to send Kathleen Wynne to a very well-earned retirement.”

Caroline Mulroney brought her campaign for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives to the Caledon Estates Banquet Halls last Thursday.