Toronto – Some MPPs are marked as people to watch the moment they set foot in the legislature and there is one of them there now.
Past examples, whom you do not have to admire, but were worth keeping an eye on, include New Democrat Stephen Lewis, who was recognized as a specially gifted orator in his mid-20s, became leader, could not push out the durable Progressive Conservatives in three elections and now is an internationally admired spokesman against AIDS.
Bob Rae, another New Democrat, had been an impressive critic in the Commons, so much was expected of him when he switched to the provincial party and became leader, and later its first and only premier and recently a Liberal MP, with again much expected of him.
Liberal Stuart Smith, a Montreal-born intellectual and psychiatrist, entered the legislature while Pierre Trudeau dominated federal politics amid some belief he had similar vote-winning appeal and within months was chosen leader, but was unable to diagnose what went on inside the heads of the blander Conservatives in two elections.
Sheila Copps, another Liberal, was eagerly awaited because she was known to have the genes of her feisty political family and showed this, but rapidly concluded the Ontario party would not win in her lifetime and left for the Commons and giddy height of deputy prime minister.
Many eyes were on the legislature when Morton Shulman, a coroner who battled the Conservative government, was elected for the NDP, but he quickly lost credibility through mistakes including claiming a minister was involved with organized crime.
The most watched new MPP in recent years was Liberal Gerard Kennedy, director of a food bank, an ideal occupation for someone wanting to win votes, and so articulate and photogenic he immediately became front-runner for leader, but lost to unheralded Dalton McGuinty.
The most-watched newcomer now is Conservative Randy Hillier, elected in October, who led a group called the Ontario Landowners Association that complains government regulates and interferes too much in rural lives.
The association blocked highways and government offices in high-profile acts of civil disobedience and there were predictions he would not fit in with leader John Tory’s moderate style.
Hillier, however, has managed to avoid open breaches with his party, while still being active.
He had a bitter row when he accused Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant of failing to ensure native demonstrators observe laws and Bryant retorted Hillier broke the law by hunting out of season, because his association issued its own permits and killed what it called nuisance deer. Hillier called him a liar.
But Hillier mostly has stuck to his theme the McGuinty Liberals are imposing too much government, which has some resonance with business in urban as well as rural areas.
Hillier has charged the Liberals have made Ontario a `nanny-state,’ which is a debate waiting to burst into the open, because the Liberals have brought in a stream of legislation to protect from dangers ranging from pit bulls to smoking, which most residents probably will support, but some feel is going overboard.
The Conservative mainstream also has supported many of these laws and is handicapped in calling them excessive.
McGuinty has elevated Hillier to some status by labeling him `the champion of an anti-government movement,’ which not all will see as bad.
The premier has countered he believes an individual cannot build, staff and maintain schools and hospitals, strengthen the economy and protect air and water on his or her own and `I count on the government to do it.’
Hilliard also brought in a private member’s bill that would require all legislation, and regulations now made privately, be reviewed by an all-party committee of MPPs that could recommend the legislature change any it felt imposed an unjustified burden or red tape or infringed freedoms.
The Liberals inevitably rejected his proposal, which would have reduced the powers of government, and many will disagree with Hillier, but he is putting forward ideas worth discussing – and he has not thrown the Speaker’s Mace at anyone.
Eric Dowd is a veteran member of the Queen’s Park press gallery.
