If you support the Ontario PC Party this is an interesting time for the party and a great time to get involved.

Tanya Granic Allen

Candidate for Leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario

Political Affiliation: Progressive Conservative

1. Tell us a bit about your background and why you decided to run for the nomination to be the next leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario?

I’m from Ontario and I’ve lived in Toronto most of my life. I currently live with my husband and our four children on a farm in Grey County, Ontario. I am the daughter of immigrants. Both of my parents immigrated to Canada separately and then met in Toronto so I have understanding of the  immigrant experience.

I currently run a small consulting business and I’m the president of Parents as First Educators (PAFE), a parental rights organization whose current focus is on the repeal of Kathleen Wynne’s sex-ed curriculum. I’ve also been involved in politics at the international and local levels for 20 years. While I’m not part of the establishment, I’m familiar with how politics operate as I’ve worked with grassroots conservatives to get our voices out there.

2. What qualifies you to lead the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario? Why should we vote for you? What differentiates you from the other leadership candidates?

I have 20 years of experience at the local, national and international level. I’ve participated in many United Nations conferences advocating for children, women and the family, and I run a non-for-profit organization, Parents as First Educators which has been active over the last few year in engaging the parental voice across the province. I’ve travelled across Ontario and I’ve been speaking with parents about what we can do to protect our kids from the radical sex-ed curriculum. I’m an advocate, a writer and public speaker and my issues revolve mostly around the issues of women and the family.

3. Tell us a bit about your policy platform? Muslims in Ontario, in a recent survey we conducted, rated healthcare, jobs and the economy as key areas of interest. Feel free to also share your thoughts on the increase in minimum wage and last week’s job data which showed the loss of near 60k part-time jobs in Ontario.

I did not like the way the minimum wage was implemented. It was far too rushed and far too sudden. Small business owners, who are the backbone of our economy, did not have enough time to absorb the increase in their payroll. I would leave the minimum wage as is. For the next increase, I would hold off until we can consult with small business owners to make sure they can accomodate any future increases in minimum wage. Minimum wage earners are important in Ontario and they deserve respect. We need to respect them and their employers to ensure that everyone can keep their job and maintain a successful economy.

What about healthcare? What are your views on our current healthcare system and what would you change, if anything?

I think healthcare should stay as is. We know we’ll be needing more funding due to the ageing population and it’s important that we take care of those in our society who are in need. We need to have a robust health care system to accommodate those needs. I have no interest in cutting funding from health care.

4. Recent data from Statistics Canada has shown a continued prevalence of hate crime incidents across the country.  They’re targeted against racial or ethnic groups, religious minorities, and based on sexual orientation- examples include crimes against Black Canadians, Jewish Canadians, Arabs, and South Asians. In our community, Islamophobia is a major concern. What will you do if elected leader and premier to address these troubling trends?

I think most of these incidences of hate are motivated by fear. It’s important for us to know each other a society and it’ll be easier to get along if we understand one another. I’m the daughter of immigrants and there were many instances where I’d hear comments and brush them off, but then I’d recognize those were instances of prejudice. We need to be welcoming and embracing in Ontario. We know diversity is our strength. That’s the selling feature of Ontario. People seek to live here because they know they have freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. We need to support people getting to know one another to reduce hate motivated by fear.

5. The previous leadership made great strides in building bridges with minority communities and placed a great deal of effort on outreach. What would the OPC look like under your leadership to ensure all communities are at the decision-making table?

Any reasonable and good person will get involved with all religions and ethnicities in the province. I personally have a very intimate experience with this coming from an immigrant background. We need to have everyone’s voice heard and that’s the only way we’ll succeed as the PC party.

6. What is your stance on climate change? You’ve recently announced your opposition to the new carbon tax. How will you address the $4B deficit without raising taxes or decreasing spending?

I have a clear and concise plan on how we’d address the carbon tax. Just because the Prime Minister comes forth with an idea to implement a carbon tax, doesn’t mean it needs to be implemented. Carbon taxation is something I definitely oppose. If Trudeau forces us to enforce a new tax, I would take him to court and fight him every step of the way. If we still lose that battle and he forces us, I would take the existing gas tax and change its name to carbon tax. I do not believe in new taxation. The last thing Ontario families need is more taxes.

7. You’ve recently been speaking out against Wynne’s sex-ed curriculum. Please tell us what you’d do if selected leader and premier about changing the curriculum in that respect.

Only 3% of the current health and physical curriculum relates to sex-ed. What I’ll focus on is just this 3% of the curriculum. My plan is what I like to call the 4 “Rs”

1. Repeal - It is not age appropriate, it sexualizes children and it was brought on without parental consultation.
2. Review - I would speak with parents, with stakeholder groups, with experts and to people across the province and hear what is needed as part of the curriculum. I wouldn’t rush this review period, so we can have a proper curriculum.
3. Replace - I would then replace the curriculum with something which is more age appropriate and not harmful to children
4. Respect - We must always respect the parents and the parental voice. We’ll let the parents decide how much and when. If the parents don’t feel like this curriculum is appropriate for their child, they should always have the option to opt out. All parents should be given notice before these topics are discussed in the classroom and the parents should decide if they want their children to participate or not.

8. On a lighter note, tell us what you like to do to relax when you are not campaigning?

I love spending time with my family and spending time outdoors, playing hockey and golfing when I can. I love to bake! I love baking and enjoying all the yummy goodness. The last thing I did before joining this race was to bake two lemon meringue pies. I ate one with my family and the other one I left in the fridge before running off to Toronto.