TORONTO - Pressure is mounting for Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory to either find a seat in the Ontario legislature or resign.

Tory, who has promised to outline his future plans Friday, is facing a new insurgency from disgruntled party members who say his inability to find a seat is hurting party morale and its ability to raise funds.

The embattled leader, who has been without a seat since the October 2007 Ontario election, will have to grit his teeth next month when party members mull a proposal that some say is designed to humiliate him.

The proposed changes to the party's constitution would require the leader to find a seat within 18 months of an election or face an automatic leadership vote.

They are not retroactive so would not apply to Tory, but they will be debated by party members at a convention in Niagara Falls next month.

John Weir, who helped draft the amendments, insisted they're about the future of the party, not about Tory himself.

But the plan is sending a not-so-subtle message to the leader, admitted Weir, who served as principal secretary to former premier Mike Harris.

"If it has that consequence, so be it, but the main intent is to make sure that the party doesn't find itself in this situation in the future," said Weir, the grandson of former Conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker.

Tory's failure to find a seat is hurting the party, and it would be a mistake for him to announce Friday that he intends to stay on without finding a riding in which to run, Weir added.

"There's really no doubt that it is a distraction and it has had an effect on the party from a fundraising point of view, from a candidate recruitment point of view, from a caucus morale point of view and from a party morale point of view," he said.

"There have been a variety of effects which are not positive for the party."

The desire to prevent such prolonged seat searches in the future is understandable, but the message being sent is clear, said veteran caucus member Garfield Dunlop.

"Obviously, it's meant to humiliate John," he said.

"If he hasn't made a decision at the time of the convention, or there's been no final decision made, it'll be embarrassing for John to see that thing debated."

Tory was unavailable for comment Tuesday, and most Conservative caucus members declined comment on the proposed amendments.

Ottawa-area member John Yakabuski called the amendments "unnecessary," but said he wouldn't worry if party members vote in favour.

"I'm not certain I would support it, but I can certainly live with it if it happens to be the case," he said.

Party president Ken Zeise said support for Tory remains strong despite rumblings that the knives may be out for the leader, while past president Blair McCready said the amendments are inconsistent with the spirit and values of the party's constitution.

"Given the importance we attach to that document, I'm not sure it's the appropriate place for political gamesmanship or for those who may have axes to grind," he said.

McCready admitted the past year "has not been an easy time for our party and for the leader," but said he is still hoping one of the caucus members will step aside for Tory.

"There is a recognition that there's a shared responsibility on caucus as well as the party to help the leader find a seat in the legislature," he said.

"I'm certainly confident and hopeful that someone will do the right thing for the party."

There has been no indication from Tory's office whether he will announce Friday that he has finally found someone to step aside so he can run in their riding, or if he plans to stay on as leader without a seat, or if he'll resign.