Caroline Mulroney was greeted by a packed crowd of Progressive Conservative supporters during a campaign stop in Peterborough on Tuesday morning.
Mulroney, one of four candidates seeking the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, held a breakfast meeting with party supporters at the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront. She was greeted by Peterborough-Kawartha riding PC candidate Dave Smith who last week announced he was endorsing candidate Christine Elliott.
As the only nominated candidate, Mulroney says it’s time for change after nearly 20 years of Liberal government policies.
“We need to do something differently,” said the 43-year-old mother of four. “I offer the party someone who is committed as the only nominated candidate — someone with the plan as the only candidate talking about issues. I’ve got the drive and the energy to defeat (Premier) Kathleen Wynne in the next 95 days.
The Toronto lawyer said if elected and the Tories win the June provincial election, her party’s top priority will be “making life more affordable” for residents and businesses of Ontario.
“We’ve got to lower hydro rates. We’ve got to lower taxes. We have to tackle housing affordability,” she said. “We’ve got to make life more affordable. People everywhere across the province are telling me the cost of their living is going up. They’re working harder and taking home less. And businesses are struggling to stay in business in the communities they love. They’re looking at going elsewhere or closing down some of their operations.”
Mulroney headed to Kingston after her Peterborough event.
Elliott, former Toronto city councillor Doug Ford and parental rights activist Tanya Granic Allen are also seeking the party leadership. Online voting has opened for party members and will continue until noon on March 9. Results will be announced on Saturday, March 10.