PC HOPEFUL WOULD REFORM RIGHTS BODY

The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has gone "awry" with a commissioner who
censures the media and champions "the rights of marijuana smokers," says a
contender for the Ontario Progressive Conservative party leadership.

"Unfortunately, human rights bureaucracy is broken," Tim Hudak told the
media at a campaign stop at Roland's Steakhouse on Highway 7 yesterday.

"It means that people who have genuine concerns about discrimination or
harassment are on long waiting lists while the Liberally-appointed chair
of the commission Barbara Hall is out censuring the media or (championing)
the rights of marijuana smokers in restaurants."

The Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP said he wants to reform "our human rights
bureaucracy" and "get the political advocacy out of our system."

"I believe as conservatives we need to show leadership, to help out
families, make Ontario a better place and fix a broken system," Hudak
said.

At a debate last Friday in Markham, leadership contenders Newmarket-Aurora
MPP Frank Klees and Whitby-Ajax MPP Christine Elliott said scrapping the
tribunal could lead to the same voter reaction as former leader John
Tory's doomed election promise to fund religious schools.

Yesterday, Hudak called that idea "over the top."

"If we (Progressive Conservatives) were always worried that Dalton
McGuinty wouldn't like our ideas, or the Toronto Star editorial board, we
would have never brought in work for welfare or scrap job quotas in this
province," he said.

Randy Hiller, MPP for Lanark- Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, who is also
running for the leadership, has said he wants to scrap the tribunal.

Asked what he would do for Peterborough if elected premier, Hudak said too
many jobs leave the area.

"We need to lower the tax burden on businesses, on family so they can
spend on the local economy and cut red tape to help our entrepreneurs
flourish."

Hudak also said the harmonized sales tax (HST) will take a "major bite out
of the pocket book of the middle class and seniors."

"The more people hear about it, the angrier they get," he said.

Hudak didn't answer when asked if he would repeal the tax if he became
premier.

The HST is scheduled to come into effect in July 2010.

About 65 PC supporters were at the campaign stop, said a member of Hudak's
staff.

NOTE: Tim Hudakwas first elected in 1995 and was a minister under premiers
Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.