TORONTO - A seat in the Ontario legislature can't come soon enough, John Tory said Tuesday as he embarks on the slow process of rebuilding the Conservative party following a disastrous election showing last fall and a divisive weekend vote on his leadership.
Some in the party aren't bothered by their leader's lack of profile in the legislature, said Tory, who failed to win a seat of his own in last October's provincial vote. Given the choice, however, he said he'd far rather join his caucus colleagues there "tomorrow morning.''
"I'd like to be in the legislature right now,'' Tory said. A vacancy has to open up before he can consider running for a seat, he added.
"We'll have a discussion about the practicalities of that and how soon it's advisable.''
Observers say Tory is in a vulnerable position following a less-than-overwhelming show of support at the party's annual meeting, which only widened an existing gulf between those who wanted to show him the door and allies who say he deserves a second chance.
Fewer than 67 per cent of party delegates voted against holding a leadership convention at the meeting; Tory then took several hours to announce he would remain party leader, fomenting further doubt among critics about his leadership skills.
Tory, however, is moving on and pressing forward, whether he has a legislature seat or not.
"Being in public life is challenging,'' he said following a speech in Toronto.
"We lost an election. We're now rebuilding a political party. That's going to take the whole time we have available to us. But we have four years. We have good people. We have a party that is coming back together as we speak and we'll get on with that task.''
Some critics have already made overtures, offering to band together for the good of the party, Tory said. Others will have to be won over in meetings and phone calls over the next little while, he said.
But from now on, Tory said he hopes Conservative arrows will be aimed at the Liberals, rather than at him.
"I think people are not interested in hearing any more about John Tory's situation and what's going on with the leadership of the PC party,'' he said. "I think they know it's settled.''
Tory's political adversaries, meanwhile, are revelling in his struggles and wondering aloud how he can continue to lead such a divided party.
"I was just astonished with the turn of events,'' said George Smitherman, Liberal health minister and deputy leader.
"We'll let Mr. Tory and his adventures or misadventures continue to animate those small number of people that are watching him and we'll work away on the important issues of the day.''
New Democrat Peter Kormos said he was amazed that Tory wasn't better prepared for the outcome of Saturday's vote, appearing as though he had just "awoken from a deep sleep'' when he declared his intention to stay -- several hours after the results were declared.
"It was just bizarre, peculiar leadership politics,'' Kormos said. "The sad thing is that for Mr. Tory, the leadership contest is alive and well. It makes it very difficult for Mr. Tory. I don't envy him. I have real concerns about how anybody could manage that rift after he apparently mishandled it over the weekend.''
Still, Conservative Elizabeth Witmer said the bloodletting is over and the party is ready to come together to fight a common enemy -- the governing Liberals.
"Our focus needs to be to move forward to 2011,'' she said. "Our battle now is with the McGuinty Liberals.''
