TORONTO – Who: Timothy Patrick Hudak, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Riding: Niagara West-Glanbrook
Leader since: June, 2009
Age: 46 (Nov. 1, 1967)
Zodiac signs: Scorpio, Goat
Bio: Born in Fort Erie, Ontario to Patrick “Pat” Hudak and Anne Marie Hudak.
Married since 2002 to Deb Hutton, a former senior adviser to Tory premier Mike Harris. Daughters: Miller Olive Hudak, 6, and Maitland Hutton Hudak, six weeks.
Holds a Bachelors degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario (1990) and a Masters of Arts in Economics from the University of Washington (1993).
Worked as a border inspector, teaching assistant, assistant manager at Walmart and manager of Fort Erie Festivals.
Politics: First elected to legislature in the Conservative sweep of 1995, representing the now-defunct riding of Niagara South. Served as Minister of
Northern Development and Mines; Culture, Tourism and Recreation; and Consumer and Business Services.
Promises: Smaller government, cutting taxes as well as tax credits and subsidies.
Asset: Represents the biggest break with the status quo for those unhappy with the Liberal government.
Liability: Has trouble coming across as empathetic; some find idea of cuts scary.
On the line: His job. After gaining only 11 seats in a 2011 election many thought was his to lose, and gaining only one seat in the nine byelections since, some Tories tried (unsuccessfully) to oust him in 2013.
Duly quoted: “I may not be the best actor on the stage and I may not be getting an Oscar. I’m not interested in trying to win votes by promising things that we can’t afford or we have no intention of delivering upon.”
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