SDSG – Local MPP Jim McDonell says Tim Hudak’s caliber of a politician will be missed in the legislature.
Hudak, the former Progressive Conservative leader and MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, announced Tuesday he’s leaving politics to become CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association.
Hudak has been in provincial politics for 21 years, starting with the cabinet of Mike Harris.
He failed to defeat the Liberals in the 2011 and 2014 provincial elections, the most recent campaign causing criticism within his own camp for promising to fire 100,000 public sector workers if his government as elected.
“Tim was a great insight and a great speaker. You might say, had a little more chance to see him excel since the last election when he’s been allowed to concentrate on his community needs and less on working for the province,” local MPP Jim McDonell told Cornwall Newswatch Tuesday.
McDonell said he will remember Hudak as being very personable. “That’s how you get those positions,” he said.
In a statement, PC Leader Patrick Brown said “I will always remember Tim as a devoted husband and a passionate family man. We would like to thank Deb Hutton, Maitland and Miller for sharing their husband and father with us. On behalf of the Ontario PC Party I thank Tim for his passionate years of service and advocacy. I know all of us will miss his advice and experience around the Caucus table. We wish him all the very best in this next chapter of his career.”
At 49 years of age, McDonell believes Hudak will be closing the chapter on his political life.
A by-election has to be called in Hudak’s riding within six months.
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