By Julia Skikavich
Ottawa Centre candidates are in the starting gate for the next provincial election and are only awaiting Premier Ernie Eves’s signal to begin campaigning.
Last week the Progressive Conservatives became the fourth party to nominate a candidate in the riding when it acclaimed 36-year-old security policy consultant Joe Varner as its standard bearer for an election expected to be called soon.
“Tonight it starts. Tonight, we start our march to Queen’s Park,” Varner told almost 100 party members at the nomination meeting.
He will face Liberal incumbent Richard Patten, New Democrat Jeff Atkinson and Green Party candidate Chris Bradshaw.
Varner, president of the Ottawa Centre PC provincial riding association, is seeking office for the first time. He said he is looking forward to the challenge of the campaign, but predicted a close race with Patten.
In the last election, Patten, a cabinet minister in the last Liberal government, defeated the runner-up, Tory Ray Kostuch by only 2,553 votes. NDP candidate Elisabeth Arnold finished third and Bradshaw fourth.
Varner said having a Liberal member sitting in opposition is not serving Ottawa Centre well. “It is time for Ottawa Centre to have a strong voice at the government table.”
Varner’s platform will include the expansion of the Ottawa Congress Centre, which he said would create 3,800 jobs and bring over $100 million in revenue to the downtown core.
Continued development of the Ottawa Bypass is also on his agenda.
The project would connect the Queensway, Highway 416 and Highway 7 in the west-end to the east-end’s Highway 417. Varner said the project would reduce traffic congestion in the city.
Provincially, the PC platform will focus on health care, transportation, education and public safety.
Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty does not have the depth or experience to form a government able to deal with the issues important to the province, Varner said, adding a government headed by Eves will provide the leadership Ontario needs.
Ontario Energy Minister John Baird spoke on Varner’s behalf at the nomination meeting.
He agreed with Varner’s statement about Eves’s leadership, and said that the PC government has made important decisions in turning around the economic future of Ontario.
“This government has made tough and difficult decisions,” Baird said. “But that is what leadership is all about.”
Baird was one of the many guests that attended the meeting to show their support for Varner, including senators and members of federal and provincial parliaments
“Ottawa Centre needs a fighter that can go to Queen’s Park and win,” said Baird. “Joe will bring a lot of experience on day one to Queen’s Park.”
Varner moved to Ottawa in 1997 from Nova Scotia where he served as an officer in the West Nova Scotia Regiment. Since his move, Varner has worked as a senior policy advisor on defence and security for the Senate.
Varner owns a consulting business with his wife and for the last year has taught Internet-based courses for the American Military University in Manassas, Va. He has been involved with the Ontario PC party in Ottawa Centre for six years.
Tom Thompson, president of the federal Progressive Conservative riding association for Ottawa Centre, nominated Varner for the candidacy.
He told attending party members he is impressed with Varner’s integrity, intelligence and knowledge of provincial issues.
“This is a wonderful community. It needs to be nurtured and taken to its full potential,” said Varner, adding his election would give the riding a strong voice in provincial government making issues important to residents to be heard.