Meet 'Project Ontario,' pushing Doug Ford's PCs to be more fiscally conservative
CBC
There's a mysterious move afoot to push Premier Doug Ford's Ontario PC government to adopt more fiscally conservative policies.
Calling itself "Project Ontario," the initiative launched quietly on the weekend with a one-page website and an unsigned manifesto posted by The Hub, an online news and commentary outlet.
"When conservatives lose their principles, Ontario loses its way. Let's change course," says the website.
"We're organizing an assembly of Ontario conservatives this fall that we'd love to tell you more about," it adds, encouraging people to submit their name, email address and postal code to get more details.
The call for change comes only a few months after Ford led his Progressive Conservatives to a third consecutive majority, something that no party leader has accomplished in the province since the 1950s.
It's unclear who's behind Project Ontario.
The editor-at-large of The Hub, Sean Speer, told CBC News he is not involved, but offered to pass on an interview request to the authors of the manifesto. CBC News also sent a message to the Project Ontario website, but received no response to any inquiry.
Ginny Roth, a longtime organizer within both the Ontario PC Party and the federal Conservative Party, posted a link to Project Ontario on social media and wrote, "I'll be signing up to be part of the conversation." CBC News asked Roth for an interview, but she declined.
The manifesto published on The Hub goes into more detail than the group's web page about the philosophy behind Project Ontario. It speaks of the province in bleak terms, describing economic decline, punitive tax rates and businesses weighed down by mounting red tape.
"Project Ontario is not just another political group. It is a grassroots movement of conservatives who are ready to think big, act boldly, and put forward practical, principled solutions," says the article.
"We are bringing together conservatives from across Ontario — party members, business owners, policy experts, and engaged citizens — to build a shared vision for the province's future," it continues. "Together, we will craft a policy framework that applies conservative values to today's most pressing issues."
There are no signs Ford and his PC Party are particularly worried that the so-far anonymous push from Project Ontario poses any sort of political threat.
"The premier is focused on delivering his mandate to protect Ontario, which he secured with his third consecutive majority election victory," said an official from Ford's office in an email to CBC News.
Kory Teneycke, who managed all three of Ford's successful campaigns, dismisses Project Ontario as a small thing.
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