Caroline Mulroney gets warm Vaughan welcome

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 8, 2018
By Tim Kelly

Caroline Mulroney said she's ready to lead the Ontario Progressive Conservatives to victory in June, but first, the 43-year-old lawyer needs to win the PC leadership race on March 10.

The York-Simcoe PC candidate took her message to Vaughan Tuesday night where about 100 cheering supporters at the Hub saw her endorsed by King-Vaughan PC nominee Stephen Lecce.

"Members of the PC party have a very simple choice to make in the coming weeks. Which candidate can beat Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals on June 7? I believe I am that candidate," Mulroney told the crowd.

She spoke about her 20 years of private sector experience and her role as a mother of four children, contrasting that with the political experience of Premier Kathleen Wynne.

"If you're looking for a lot (of political experience), just look to Kathleen Wynne, who's got a lot of political experience and look where it's gotten us," she said to loud applause.

Mulroney has the support of four MPPs, including controversial Monte McNaughton, known for his stand against the province's sex education curriculum and strong pro life views.

Two minutes with Caroline Mulroney

Q: Is it an advantage to be the leader, maybe the premier, in York-Simcoe or would people prefer you to be just the MPP?

A: You want your MPP to have a lot of sway in government. I would assume it would be an advantage. You would have to ask the voters of York-Simcoe, but I would see it as an advantage.

Q: Will you be able to look after their day-to-day interests if you're worried about what's going on across the province?

A: I have been knocking on doors in York-Simcoe since September and I have a great team of volunteers who are continuing to do that while I have taken a little hiatus this week. But I look forward to getting back to knocking on doors in York-Simcoe as often as I can and standing up for the issues that matter to them at Queen's Park, which I will do when I am elected

Q: You've got a very famous name. A lot of people know it, but some people don't like that name. Is that an advantage or a disadvantage to you?

A: I guess it depends on who you're asking. My dad (former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney) resigned when I was 19 years old. That's maybe not counting, but that's about 25 years ago. I've done a lot since then. So that's his name, but it's my name. I've been working hard my whole life. I have a career in the private sector and so I've defined myself on my own terms and my own merit.

Q: (PC Leadership candidate) Doug Ford said you're a member of the elite, (PC leadership candidate) Christine Elliott said you're not ready, you don't have the experience. How do you counter those two views.

A: I've been fortunate in life and so has Doug Ford. But not enough Ontarians have been and what matters is that we start working for them, for all Ontarians.