Neo-cons vs. Theo-cons

Ontario PC leader John Tory tries to illustrate that Ontario's provincial Conservatives are still progressive by attending the Inside Out Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film and Video Festival. The Ontario PC, he claims, are a 'big tent' party.

Of course, even Mike Harris- as Conservative as they come- realized the need to appear progressive on many social issues, often leaving him at odds with the then Reform and later Canadian Alliance. There illustrated a division between neo-cons and theo-cons in the late 1990s in Ontario. Harris didn't want to touch equal marriage or other social issues with a ten foot poll. This was necessary in order to appeal to Ontario's urban voters. John Tory, it seems, realizes that the same strategy will be necessary. He rightly assumes that the Liberals will, as always, paint the Tories as 'spooky' with a hidden agenda.

While John Tory is no Mike Harris, the remnants of the Common Sense Revolution are still largely existent in the Ontario PC Party. Privatization, deregulation, contracting-out, and anti-union legislation will occur under a John Tory led Tory government. It will be interesting to see how effective the Tories are at painting themselves as progressive enough (on social issues, and to a lesser extent on some economic issues) to appeal to Ontario's 905-belt urban voters, and if these voters buy those claims.