Jim Wilson named interim Ontario PC leader
Tim Hudak's successor says party must stop attacking people
Veteran MPP Jim Wilson — named Wednesday as the interim leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservative party — says the Tories must stop attacking people if they ever hope to form government again.
The Simcoe-Grey MPP and former cabinet minister was elected as interim Tory leader Wednesday by the PC caucus, replacing Tim Hudak who led the party to defeat in the last two elections.
Wilson says Hudak got some bad advice in the election campaign when he vowed to cut 100,000 public sector jobs, an idea Wilson says "was unfairly thrust" on Tory MPPs and candidates without consultation.
Wilson says the Conservatives spent the past decade in opposition attacking various groups, especially unions, and insists in their hearts they're not that kind of people.
He says the party will have to earn voters' trust again, but says it will be up to the new leader to set policy while he'll provide a caretaker role until a convention can be held.
The PC executive will meet Saturday and could decide then on a date for a leadership convention, which Wilson says he'd like to see sooner rather than later.
So far, only MPP Christine Elliott has confirmed she will seek the party leadership.
With files from The Canadian Press