How Badly Does Tory Want to be Premier?

John Tory fans will want to take a quick peek here. It’s a cute attempt to unseat Tory as leader of the PC Party of Ontario (and a misleading one since it suggests that the movement’s supporters include rock-solid Tory loyalists like MPP Joyce Savoline). Not that this is any surprise. Since the election, I’ve spoken to a few well-placed sources who were surprised that Tory announced he wanted to stay on as leader, given that Red Tories such as himself remain in the minority. (As one said to me, “That’s a real caveman caucus he’s got.”) One is betting that Tory will step down before the convention rather than go through the motions and walk away with a tepid vote of confidence.

A man of his ability and connections could certainly be doing something better with his time, like running the World Bank (which actually wouldn’t surprise me). But I’m betting that he’s in for the long haul, that he’ll find a way to bring the cavemen to heel. He wants to be premier badly. He’s still got some unfinished business, and I don’t think he can walk away from it.

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