After 21 years at Queen’s Park and a stint as leader of the Progressive Conservatives, Tim Hudak is quitting provincial politics to become chief executive officer of the Ontario Real Estate Association. Despite the setback, Hudak stayed involved as an MPP, pushing several private members’ bills, including one to ease government restrictions on boutique distilleries. Hudak, who served as a cabinet minister in the administrations of former premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, said his last day as the MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook will be Sept. 16. “When a really good opportunity comes along, you grab it,” said Hudak, who was ousted as PC leader by MPPs unhappy with the party’s campaign in the 2014 election that saw Premier Kathleen Wynne vault to a majority. Hudak had promised to cut 100,000 public sector jobs, a controversial vow that cost his party one-third of its seats and led to recriminations in the Tory caucus over an approach viewed as too confrontational.

Source: thestar August 09, 2016 17:03 UTC