Last month, I had the privilege of co-chairing the 2024 Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Policy Convention in Niagara Falls, which brought over a thousand active party members from across the province to our region.
As long as there have been political systems, there have been like-minded groups holding to shared ideas and convictions. In the Senate of Ancient Rome, the ‘factions’, as they were known, were divided between the Optimates and Populares — these factions were precursors to political parties, organized along philosophical and ideological lines. Over time, the evolution of political parties into coalitions of various interests, philosophical differences and policy preferences has become a fundamental opportunity for citizens to participate in the political process.
In Ontario, we have a robust multi-party system, with four political parties holding seats in the 124-seat Legislature. One of the most important events for members of any political party is the annual policy conference. The policy conference provides an important opportunity for grassroots party members to share their ideas and priorities. Although every political party seeks to bring forward policies that are in the best interests of the people of Ontario, they hold to competing political philosophies and guiding principles — this diversity of thought is healthy for a strong Parliamentary democracy.
As a Member of Provincial Parliament affiliated with the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, it is important for me and my party colleagues to meet with the grassroots membership of our party to gather feedback, hear about local concerns, and chart a united path forward.
At the end of the day, I am not elected as your Member of Provincial Parliament solely by the local membership of the Progressive Conservative Party. As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West, I strive to advocate and make decisions that are in the best interests of all constituents in the riding.
Policy conventions, however, do provide an important opportunity to re-engage, recharge, and reorient for the years to come — and as co-chair of the policy conference in Niagara Falls, it was great to showcase the people and products of Niagara!
