Globe and Mail reporter Jane Taber.The Globe and Mail
Ontario Progressive Conservatives meet in Ottawa this weekend as new leader Patrick Brown attempts to put his own brand on the party – and at least four potential federal leadership contestants use the convention to jockey for support among the delegates.
This is a crucial convention for Mr. Brown as he tries to establish his bona fides in advance of the 2018 provincial election. He is coming into it on a high. He handily won his seat in a by-election last September, and last month his party hung on to win the by-election in Whitby-Oshawa, despite the best efforts of Kathleen Wynne and her Liberals, who pulled in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to campaign.
For all of his wins, however, Mr. Brown is weak on policy. His critics wonder what he stands for. This weekend is to be the beginning of trying to answer that question, as the party is establishing a so-called grassroots policy development process. What comes out of this will be revealed at the party's policy convention next year.
As well as the convention business – it's expected the party will unveil a new logo – there will be lots of intrigue over the presence of the four potential federal leadership candidates.
Former Harper cabinet ministers, Tony Clement, Kellie Leitch, Lisa Raitt and Maxime Bernier, are attending the convention, and have an entire weekend to dazzle the delegates. Although no one has officially declared for the leadership – the rules have not yet been announced – these four are among the most active.
The trick for Mr. Brown will be to make sure the prospective candidates don't steal the convention spotlight from him.
Here's a look at what else is happening behind the scenes at the PC convention.
The numbers
More than 1,600 delegates are expected to attend the three-day convention, coming from as far north as Kenora and Kapuskasing. There are 450 youth delegates – the largest contingent of youth ever to attend an Ontario PC convention, according to party officials. About 14 university and college campuses are represented.
The sponsors
The $10,000 dessert reception is being sponsored by the plumber and pipefitters union, UA Canada. The coffee break is thanks in part to the Ontario Real Estate Association; Union Gas is sponsoring Friday night's skating party, and the Ontario Medical Association and the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario are helping out with the convention's opening ceremony.
The Egg Farmers of Ontario and Campaign Research, which is run by two Tory insiders, Nick Kouvalis and Ontario PC party outgoing president Richard Ciano, are the hosts of the convention's charity breakfast.
In addition, the party says that the Ontario Provincial Police Association, the Ontario Dental Association, the Ontario Waste Management Association, Resolute Forest Products, Aroma Espresso Bar and the Insurance Bureau of Canada are also convention sponsors.
Larry Cann of UA Canada, which represents 22,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters and others in Ontario's construction industry, says this is the first time that his union has sponsored an event with the Ontario Tories.
Tim Hudak, the previous leader who campaigned against unions, didn't want his money, says Mr. Cann. His union's sponsorship of the dessert reception following Mr. Brown's keynote speech is part of an effort to build a relationship with the party. "We're a construction union … we try to base what we do on issues. Our membership votes for everybody, be it NDP, be it Liberal, be it Conservative," says Mr. Cann. "This is our first foray into this … it's kind of like the first date. We don't have any relationship at the moment [with the PCs]. We have to build one where they understand us better."
(It is interesting to note that federal political parties cannot attract the same sponsorship. Elections Canada considers sponsorships as donations – and under federal financing laws, unions and corporations are banned from donating to political parties.)
The suites
Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement, a former Stephen Harper cabinet minister, is playing host at a suite with his provincial counterpart, PC MPP Norm Miller. The two are known for their Muskoka-themed suite. It will take on more prominence at this convention as Mr. Clement is actively thinking about a leadership bid. Veteran PC strategist, John Capobianco, who has also run federally, is leading Mr. Clement's exploratory group. It's rumoured the suite may feature Muskoka chairs and craft beer from the region, but apparently no gazebo.
The other potential candidates have not confirmed suites, yet.