Ontario has a premier and opposition party leader so like each other they could be twins. Progressive Conservative John Tory has emerged in eight months as leader as having policies remarkably close to those of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty, whom he is trying to replace.
These are early days, with an election not due until 2007, but it could pose a danger to the Conservatives, because voters will not be attracted to a party that appears to offer merely more of the same.
The two leaders were expected to share some views, because Tory is a moderate Conservative like his mentor, former premier William Davis, while McGuinty is enough to the right in his party that many Liberals chose him leader to keep out former food bank head Gerard Kennedy, whom they
considered a raving socialist.
The two leaders inevitably have crossed paths competing for the huge vote in the centre, but Tory has gone further than anyone could have
predicted in agreeing with McGuinty?s policies.
The Conservatives voted unanimously for a Liberal law that will require facilities to improve access for the disabled, while earlier Conservatives had delayed, fearing the cost to business.
Tory and most Conservatives voted for Liberal legislation under which the province will keep only a watered-down role in classifying rather than censoring movies, after a court ruled it lacks broad power to censor. Conservatives traditionally have been strong advocates of censorship.
Tory?s Conservatives voted unanimously to change the law so immigrants awaiting rulings on their applications to become permanent residents can send their children to schools without paying fees as high as $10,000 a year. Earlier Conservatives resented those arriving in Canada before being approved and would not pay the cost.
Tory?s Conservatives approved unanimously Liberal legislation forcing doctors to report anyone seeking treatment for gunshot wounds to police to
help catch criminals, which previous Conservatives refused because some doctors feel this is confidential information.
The Conservatives unanimously supported a Liberal law requiring the often intrusive industry of security guards to be trained and licensed, which
previous Conservative governments shied from imposing on business.
Most Conservatives also voted for legislation that gives the province and municipalities power to designate and safeguard heritage properties, although traditionally they have insisted a man?s home is his castle.
The Conservatives? longest-serving MPP, Norm Sterling, mused in the legislature he could not recall the Liberals in opposition being as co-operative.
Tory also backed McGuinty?s claimed the federal Liberal government was not returning enough of the money it takes from Ontario in taxes and the premier used the Conservative?s support in prying some relief
This is not to say Tory has no differences with McGuinty.
Among other criticisms he said the premier should have demanded a more permanent rearranging of funding from Ottawa.
Tory said the Liberals should not have raised taxes in their first budget and broken a promise. He also says the Liberals should spend more on agriculture, health care, municipalities and police, and move urgently to balance their budget.
He argued the province should make it easier for adoptees and birth parents to contact each other, but guarantee privacy to those who prefer to be left alone.
The Conservative leader should be given credit for believing in his stands and not being a mere copy-cat, because he has demonstrated he has principles and does not oppose for the sake of opposing.
Tory does not obstruct the legislature when he disagrees by reading lists of lakes and rivers for days, as former Conservative premier Mike Harris did, or use abrasive words, his most inflammatory being a Liberal claim was `a bit rich,? for which he also should be praised.
But his differences with McGuinty so far have not been dramatic and striking enough for him to carve out a niche as an alternative and why would residents vote for someone not much different from what they have?
