Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 2004
| Winner | John Tory |
|---|---|
| Resigning leader | Ernie Eves |
| Convention | Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley, Toronto, Ontario |
| Date | September 18, 2004 |
| Ballots | 2 |
| Candidates | 3 |
| Entrance Fee | ? |
| Spending limit | $1 million |
Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
On January 23, 2004, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader Ernie Eves announced his intention to step down as leader before the fall of 2004. Eves was elected party leader in the party's 2002 leadership election, and became Premier of Ontario. He led the party to defeat in the 2003 provincial election.
Under the Ontario PC Party Constitution, a leadership election could not be called until Eves submitted a formal request to the Party Executive. He did not do so until June, and a few days later, on June 13, the Party Executive called a leadership election for September 18, 2004. The leadership vote was won by John Tory with approximately 54% of the vote on the second ballot.
The first of three candidates' debates occurred in Ottawa on July 26. The second debate occurred in Sudbury on August 17. The final debate was held in London, Ontario on August 30. While the third debate was a restrained affair the first two were marked by clashes between Flaherty and Tory as Flaherty accused his rival of not being a real conservative and being out of touch and elitest.
Final candidate speeches were made at the convention in Toronto on September 17. Flaherty made the unusual decision to deliver his speech in his home town of Whitby and have it broadcast live to the convention. This was criticized as being "gimmicky" and reminiscent of the disastrous Magna budget and as demonstrating a hostility to Toronto. The criticisms of Flaherty's decision overshadowed the contents of his speech.
Flaherty's campaign was strongly critical of outgoing leader Ernie Eves accusing him of abandoning the "Common Sense Revolution" and arguing for a return to the policies of Mike Harris. A social conservative, Flaherty was perceived to be in favour of taking the party into a more right wing direction on social issues but said little of this during the actual campaign. John Tory's campaign hearkened back to the party's success under Bill Davis and argued that Ontarians were tired of divisiveness and polarization and that a more moderate direction was needed if the party was to succeed.
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