Press Release

Statement from Andrew Lawton, Southwestern Ontario District Chair, Ontario PC Youth Association

London, Ontario 17 January, 2008

The following statement was emailed to DraftALeader.com the evening of January 17th. I would like to congratulate Mr. Lawton for his demonstration of leadership and honesty. It is our hope that his example will encourage others within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

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January 17, 2008
Andrew Lawton
Southwestern Ontario District Chair,
Ontario PC Youth Association

alawton2@uwo.ca
(519) 870-3433

In reference to recent events regarding delegate selection meetings for the Ontario PC Party Convention, I urge all members of the Ontario PC Youth Association to re-evaluate their decision in the matter of the leadership review. I did have some doubts about the notion of a review, however, as an executive member of the OPCYA, I did not have much opportunity to form an educated decision, as members of said executive were forced to sign a letter supporting Mr. Tory at the risk of losing their positions. This was an open letter to Ontario PC Party Leader John Tory on behalf of all members of the OPCYA explaining the level of support that members of the OPCYA executive had for keeping Mr. Tory in the position of leader of the party. Although that opinion was shared by many, executive members and the youth membership were spoken for in a manner that did not represent their personal morals.

At a post-election executive meeting, OPCYA President Andrew Brander threatened the political futures of those directors who were uncomfortable with signing the document at that time. With my dedication to the organization, I signed the letter to Mr. Tory at the risk of being removed from the board and not having a place within the PCPO in future elections. This act of force not only opposed the principles of democracy, but opposed my right and wish to remain neutral in the matter of the review. My wish is that all party members are able to make an informed decision regarding a matter of such magnitude, without being privy
to threats and injustices from within the organization.

My wish was to remain neutral for the entire campaign. However, my "signing" of this letter put me in a position where I became a vocal opponent to the review, and was forced to silence my personal leanings at the risk of being removed from the party. To this point, I have not yet taken an official position on the review. However, with the manner in which those opposed to the review have conducted themselves, I will certainly be supporting a leadership review. I call upon all other members who may have been strong-armed in one direction or another to come forward to allow for a clean race, where individuals
may vote according to their own conscience, and not that of their association's president.

Background

OPCYA Letter of Endorsement for John Tory

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Youth delegates from London West
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:23:45 -0500
From: David T. Forestell
To: