Bob Dylan has the Never-Ending Tour. Effie Triantafilopoulos hoped to have the Never-Ending Campaign.
As seemed inevitable from the beginning, the Conservative Party is slamming the brakes on Triantafilopoulos, who refused to give up campaigning after Mississauga South incumbent MPP Tim Peterson crossed the floor to the Tories at the end of March.
The downtown brass sent a delegation out earlier from HQ to calm the waters among disgruntled locals.
They were greeted by an executive committee that, to its everlasting credit, didn’t want to just throw aside three legitimate local candidates in favour of Peterson, the guy who took the riding out of the Blue column for the first time in memory in 2003.
The executive voted for an open and democratic nomination in defiance of Leader John Tory who obviously expected everyone to genuflect before Peterson and the rules of the party, which (we are assured) state that a “sitting PC MP” gets a free walkover.
On Monday night, Blair McCreadie, the president of the provincial party dropped by to watch proceedings as the next stage in the battle was engaged. A group of dissidents had asked that the call for an open nomination be the subject of a special gathering of all riding members.
According to David Dawson, the man who signed the request on behalf of the dissidents, it was denied on a technicality. A legal opinion read at the meeting stated that there can’t be any “open” nomination because the central party has not approved any of the candidates, as must occur under 2006 revised rules. “They say there was never a formal approval given to any of them, just a tacit approval,” explained Dawson.
The group will launch an official appeal to McCreadie but after hearing him speak at the meeting, Dawson said, “I don’t expect any different result. Their position is quite clear.”
Indeed, McCreadie said this morning from his downtown law offices, that the rules mean that Peterson will join the Conservative caucus after the House rises later this year and he will be acclaimed as the South candidate before the Oct. 10 campaign begins. “That’s how things will roll out.”
The proposed resolution, “was felt to be in conflict with the party’s nominations process” McCreadie said. What he didn’t say was that the decision came down to a 7-7 deadlocked vote, with Riding President Dianne Lawson breaking the tie to carry the day.
Part of the decision was also based on, “the growing sense that enough is enough,” said the party president. “The party and the leader have decided how things will go forward.”
Then with a tip to the fact that the rules may not exactly have been devised to pave the path for floor-crossers, McCreadie said, “ I appreciate that it’s been difficult for some people to accept that decision but we have these rules for a reason, and we’re sticking to them.”
Triantafilopoulos is also sticking to her guns. A call to her office this morning confirmed that she was out canvassing. The membership chairman reported at Monday’s meeting that the new memberships she is busy selling are still coming in.
One member of the executive says that the fight is not over yet. There is still a possibility of a legal challenge. “It just goes to show that the party is really undemocratic,” the member said.
The longer this goes on, the worse it is for Mr. Tory and his party and the better are the chances of the Liberals, whose candidate will almost certainly be Charles Sousa, retaining the traditional Conservative seat.
Peterson undoubtedly joined the Tories, at least in part, because he thought he was improving his chances of winning re-election.
Instead of being greeted with the open arms he would have wished, however, the dissension that his move has caused in the Tory ranks is looking more and more like a burden that could cost the party it’s best chance at a breakthrough in a City where the provincial Liberals won each and every seat the last time around.
• • •
By the way, don’t play Tory trivia with McCreadie. He says that Peterson is one of just four men ever to cross the floor from the Liberals to the Tories. The first occurred in the early 1940s at the beginning of the Conservatives’ 42-year reign. Then there was Marvin Shore from London North in 1976 and J. Earl McEwen of Frontenac-Addington in 1984. Interestingly, the latter two lost for their new party.
Comments (11)
Mixed marriage metaphors of Mississauga South
In the shotgun wedding of Tim Peterson to the Tories of Mississauga South it would appear that they have been pistol whipped into submission.
Tim, ever the supporter of human rights and democratic reform has set a fine bad example of how to make friends and influence people. Not able to any longer endure the disregard his same-politic partner [Dalton] has for him; Mr. Peterson could not help but feel obliged to cross-dress over into a new hetero-political relationship.
Always striving to be at the self-centre of attention and politics Mr. Peterson does certainly recognize opportunity when he sees it. Like any good bookie worth your money he has a knack for betting his fortunes on the winning team once he is assured the fix is in.
I am also starting to believe that old urban legend about the best man, or maybe just the only guy available at the time, running away with the bride on the honeymoon.
Lastly I bring to the attention of the Save the Peterson Foundation, the fact that Tim has never helped anyone of any political stripe, except himself, with their election campaign in Mississauga South.
Tim Peterson; always the bride never a bridesmaid.
Posted by Stephen Wahl | May 14, 2007 12:34 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 12:34
I am surprised that Conservatives in Mississauga South aren’t fit to be tied! How could Dianne Lawson, the President of the Mississauga South riding association vote to write off democracy for floor crossing Liberal Tim Peterson? She should be replaced!
Could it be because Mr. Blair McCreadie, the president of the provincial party, keeps on saying the rules are there for a reason? Interestingly, Mr. McCreadie offers no reason why the rule is there in the first place? Probably because it doesn’t exist. No one I am aware of can find it anywhere in the constitution. The reason for this invisible rule needs to be explained.
Additionally, why would any conservative vote for Mr. Peterson in the first place? One does not need to look any further than his performance in the Ontario Legislature to answer that simple question. Tim Peterson has only made 22 Member’s Statements in the Ontario legislature since he was elected by the electorate in 2003, averaging a dismal 6 statements per year.
A closer examination of those statements reveals that most are not even related to issues of importance to the residents of Mississauga South. For example, since November 2005, Mr. Peterson has made 10 Member’s Statements of items he believes are of importance and affect the residents of Mississauga South. The only two worthy ones were for the Southside Shuffle in 2006 and 2007.
Three others were for visitors - Mrs. Farida Merchant in December 2006, author Dave Cook and his financier Terry Butt in November 2006, and Port Credit residents Sandy Smale and Lori Mason in November 2005.
Ramping up the final five include two congratulations- one to the Mississauga South midget baseball team in October 2006, and another to the Trillium Health Centre for an award it received from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care in April 2006. The recognition for Atomic Energy Canada for its nuclear technology uniqueness was the third congratulations in December 2005 - a statement which really made no sense at all.
The final two were self serving accolades for family members Deb Mathews, MPP for London North Centre in March 2006 for successfully defending her doctoral thesis, and to nephew Ben Peterson for his work for Journalists for Human Rights in November 2005.
How impressive – our air shed, GTA pooling and gas power plant issues weren’t even on his radar.
I have always had the opinion that Mississauga South residents deserve a hard working member of the legislature to defend our interests. A member who will stand up for the community. Someone who will bring the issues that affect their constituents of their riding to the forefront.
If this is Mr. Peterson’s version of stellar performance as our MPP, I submit that Mr. Peterson is not up to the job. More importantly, Ms. Lawson’s failure to acknowledge this is an insult to all of those us who believe in democracy. She should have insisted that Mr. Peterson face the riding electorate to win the nomination.
Ms. Lawson has obviously either overlooked the rights of the electorate or missed the point completely. She should step down from her position. True conservatives need someone who will stand up for democracy. After all, doesn’t democracy mean that the constituents are the ones who should have the final say?
Daove Loughlin-Ross
Mississauga.
Posted by Dave Loughlin Ross | May 14, 2007 12:28 PM
Posted on May 14, 2007 12:28
Now if Emil Kolb could scrunch the numbers for another $111,000 Tilson Welfare pay out up in Caledon, the same way the region purchased Ernie Eve's seat, Effie could pretend to sit on the municipal board until John Tory moves out of Caledon and into Don Valley under the same Workfare decoy.
Posted by Abbe | May 14, 2007 10:17 AM
Posted on May 14, 2007 10:17
Hey Irene, now that's a really wonderful idea! Let's have all the potential PC nominees in all ridings (whether they were approved by the party or not) run as independants in the fall election.
Wow - we could split the PC vote, ummm, 5 different ways in each riding perhaps? I'm sure that McGuinty must have paid you BIG dollars from his slush fund to think up that brainiac idea.
Effie has (or had) the potential to be a good candidate, however her (and her team's) actions and behaviour are flushing it all down the loo.
Too Bad, Too Sad.
Posted by Irene - are you for real? | May 12, 2007 9:01 AM
Posted on May 12, 2007 09:01
I say stick with it Effie T ... you have guts.You and two other candidates played by the rules up until a secret deal was made that more or less said " you three are good for nothing we used you to sign up people and once you do that you are out? Goffers???
Run as an Independent! Then you can join the Liberals when they win the next election in Ontario. John Tory has made a big big goof... I would not want to be a part of a party who changes the rules to suit their own backroom deals.
Now where can I get in touch with Sousa?
Posted by Irene Gabon | May 11, 2007 2:48 PM
Posted on May 11, 2007 14:48
A Paul Szabo loyalist is a Reform-a-Tory.
Even appointee Ieva Martin jumped ship from the $56 billion HRDC surplus, behind the disappearance of ROE's, because the Pooling (as a result of ) had created the local larger "Market for Evictions"
Posted by No Way "Jose" | May 11, 2007 12:01 PM
Posted on May 11, 2007 12:01
Seeing as how the number of years party loyalists have spent putting up election signs and doing other campaign work has now been mentioned in this debate; I would like you to know how many signs Tim Peterson has put up for the Mississauga South Tories over the years; or the Mississauga South Liberals for that matter.
The answer is zilch and zilch. It was all done for him by a multitude of party loyalists. As a matter of fact, the ‘Peterson’ election signs that he used for the Mississauga South Provincial Liberal nomination meeting in 2003, which he entered at the last minute, were leftovers from his federal MP brother Jim Peterson.
Posted by Stephen Wahl | May 10, 2007 9:08 PM
Posted on May 10, 2007 21:08
How very true about Emile Kolb and regional "trick" numbers scrunching.
The only reasons Margaret Marland has to push Effie to run for public office for her is the "FACT" that Paul Szabo kept sending the Regional FOI’s requests back to her office while the changing of HRDC ROEs and T-4 slips were hitting the $56 billion new bottom low in reporting procedures and mismanagement accounting under “Actioning”.
If John Tory’s a smarter lawyer than Dalton McGuinty he’d probably force the region to correct their book keeping mistakes instead of raising Health Premiums to push the mess into $20,000 ODSP caps caused with in the context of Sandra Pupatello’s revelations to fraud.
Posted by Abbe | May 10, 2007 4:22 PM
Posted on May 10, 2007 16:22
Sometimes its easier to throw a temper tantrum than to do the right thing.
If anyone has a right to be angry about this it was Brad Butt. He puts up signs, he knocks on doors, he makes the phone calls and has done so for 25 years in this party.
Effie goes to expensive parties and sits on the sidelines.
Then when it comes time to do what it right for the party, she cries and bangs her feet on the floor.
Grow up and act like an adult.
Posted by qpsandbox | May 10, 2007 10:56 AM
Posted on May 10, 2007 10:56
I believe that french revolution is a better discription of Mississauga South since Wikipedia descripts it as follows: a period of political and social upheaval. OK so perhaps the social upheaval is at Effie's champagne breakfasts with her mob threating to storm the Bruno's Fine Foods.As a true grass roots conservative, I beleive it is time for the party to roll out the guillotine and end Empresses Effie and John Simcoe's version of the " The Reign of Terror" in Mississauga South. Start acting like a strong leader Mr. Tory or soon you will face the guillotine of party and public opinion.
Posted by Angus Munro | May 9, 2007 9:48 PM
Posted on May 9, 2007 21:48
It really is a shame watching Ms Effie implode. All of those so-called advisors are making her look like a spoiled little brat. "Can't have the riding I want? Well, I'll just sue you - so there"
I expected far more from Ms Effie but now I have to doubt her wisdom and judgement. Seems like Mississauga South PC's are better off without her as a candidate if she doesn't know the meaning of the words compromise and teamwork. She is not working with the party - she is working to spite the party.
Effie, for Gawd's sake - do yourself a favour and take a time-out to think about what you are doing.
Posted by Effie Redux-redux-dux-dux | May 9, 2007 7:41 PM
Posted on May 9, 2007 19:41