Posted By JIM ALGIE

John Tory says he's learned hard lessons from the faith-based schools debacle that sank his campaign last fall, and he vowed Friday to fight to keep his job.

"I'll be a wiser and stronger leader for having had the experience of the 2007 election when we did lose and I did make some mistakes," Tory admitted.

The Progressive Conservative leader refused to budge on the funding issue despite objections from many of his PC colleagues, including local MPP Bill Murdoch, who urged a free vote on the subject.

Murdoch spoke up with his concerns last fall after hearing from electors. Tory heard the same story during his door-to-door campaigning but close advisors encouraged him to ignore it. He finally did back off on the policy but it was too late to change the course of the campaign.

"When I acted to say we should hold a free vote, I was addressing not just Bill's concerns but the concerns of the public," Tory said. "The criticism that I made of myself is that I didn't act sooner.

"I was being told by Bill and others - he wasn't alone - that it was a serious issue that was . . . irritating our core."

Tory has since promised not to raise the issue again in favour of focusing on economics and core public services.

"I still have a very strong belief that we can provide a better government," Tory said of his party's future. "You assume that the mandate of government is first and foremost to provide a strong economy because out of that comes the opportunity and the money to pay for good public services."

"You do learn," Tory said of the lessons of the 2007 election. It's a job where there is no book you can read.

Complete story at the Owen Sound Sun Times