TORONTO - A new website aimed at mobilizing members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party to vote for a leadership review was launched this week.

Nick Kouvalis, a party activist from Windsor, said he created draftaleader.com to get the grassroots of the Ontario PC party aware of meetings to elect delegates that can vote for a leadership review when the PC party meets in London in February.

Kouvalis said he doesn't support John Tory and wants to see someone else take the helm of the party.

Complete Story at the Windsor Star

What's being said about the campaign around the blogs in Canada? Stay informed.

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Patrick O'Neil's Pointed Pen - Dump John Tory Now

Sobering Thoughts - Taylor again says nothing

Canada, Eh? - Party Insiders Conspire to Dump Tory

The Conservative Hipsters - How about "Draft A Clue"?

Preville on Politics - How Badly Does Tory Want to be Premier?

Jordana Huber, CanWest News Service Published: Wednesday, December 05, 2007

TORONTO - A new Web site aimed at mobilizing members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party to vote for a leadership review was launched this week.

Nick Kouvalis, a party activist from Windsor, Ont said he created draftaleader.com to get the grassroots of the Ontario PC party aware of meetings to elect delegates that can vote for a leadership review when the PC party meets in London, Ont. in February.

Mr. Kouvalis said he doesn't support John Tory and wants to see someone else take the helm of the party.

"Our goal is to make sure the grassroots gets the information because the party isn't putting it out there on its Web site," said Mr. Kouvalis.

He said the response so far has been "overwhelming."

Since the party's poor election showing Oct. 10 -- mostly blamed on Mr. Tory's ill-fated faith based funding plan -- there have been 'dump John Tory' rumblings from some old party stalwarts.

Complete story at the National Post

Top-level Conservatives launch drive to dump Tory

`Growing demand for change' propels push for new Ontario leader in wake of October election disaster
Dec 05, 2007 04:30 AM
Robert Benzie
Rob Ferguson
Queen's Park Bureau


A meeting of high-level Progressive Conservatives will be held tonight to launch a campaign to dump John Tory as leader, the Toronto Star has learned.

In the wake of the party's disastrous Oct. 10 election showing, senior Conservatives are pushing for a Yes vote in February's leadership review, which would trigger a race for a new leader.

"There are a lot of people unhappy with the election result and there's a growing demand for change," a source said yesterday.

To that end, a dinner will be held tonight at the Toronto home of Ron McLaughlin, former chief of staff to one-time premier Mike Harris, for about a dozen top Conservatives.

Others expected to attend include John Weir, a former Harris chief of staff; Jeremy Adams, campaign manager of now federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's 2005 provincial leadership bid; and former PC president Rueben Devlin.

Sources say disaffected backers of Tory's 2005 leadership, who worked on the recent campaign, are also planning to go tonight.

"This is a broader coalition," said an insider, emphasizing the burgeoning group simply wants a leadership review.

Full Story at the Toronto Star

We've included a new Menu Item - In the News - to help you stay up-to-date on what's being published in both the main stream media and various blogs.

Each day we'll present a wrap of the various blog posts and any articles we can find in local or national media. As always, your help is greatly appreciated. If you notice a story or blog post that's not listed here, send an email to info@draftaleader.com or visit our contact page.

Day 1 Blog Posts:

Joanne's Journey - Underground Democracy

Conservative Hipster - Tory, Tory, Tory

Stephen Taylor - First shot fired in battle over Tory's future

Warren Kinsella - JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Back Off Government - John Not-So-Tory Troubles

Political Staples - If I was a Progressive Conservative

Victory 2011 - The Rebels

Freedom is My Nationality - Draft a Leader

Edit: Queer-Liberal - Memo to Ontario PCs: Keep John Tory, he's better than the alternatives

(Note: these blog links are presented for your information.)

Dec 03, 2007 04:30 AM
Ian Urquhart

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory is quietly conducting a campaign to save his job.

Last week, Tory completed a province-wide tour of meetings – 13 in all – with party members to discuss the results of the October election, in which he lost his own seat while the Conservatives went down in flames.

The meetings were billed as a "consultation" of the members to gauge their feelings on his leadership, among other things. But it was well-known that Tory had already decided to carry on as leader. Thus, the announcement of his decision to stay will be a mere formality – if, indeed, there is any announcement at all.

The more pressing question is: will the Conservatives agree to let Tory remain?

At a party convention in February in London, delegates will be asked to answer Yes or No to the question: "Do you wish to have a leadership election?" A Yes vote would be tantamount to passing a motion of non-confidence in Tory.

The No side has begun organizing around long-time party activist John Capobianco, a government relations consultant. While insisting that the effort is very informal and staffed entirely by volunteers, Capobianco acknowledges: "I'm a bit of a point person."

Full article at the Toronto Star