Tim Hudak

Timothy Patrick Hudak (born November 1, 1967) is a former Canadian politician who led the Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) Party from 2009 to 2014.

While in university, Hudak worked at the Peace Bridge on the US-Canada border from 1988–93.

Hudak attended the University of Western Ontario, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1990.

He then studied at the University of Washington in Seattle on a full scholarship.

He received a master's degree in economics in 1993.

In 1994, he was hired by Walmart as a travelling manager, instructing employees on the company's policies and operating procedures.

Hudak was a member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) from 1995 to 2016 and was also the leader of the Opposition in Ontario when he was PC party leader.

He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.

Hudak ran in the provincial election of 1995 in the riding of Niagara South.

He defeated Liberal Aubrey Foley by 1,081 votes.

Aged 27, Hudak was the second-youngest Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) elected in 1995, the youngest being John Baird.

The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government under Mike Harris, and Hudak was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Health Jim Wilson.

He later served as Parliamentary Assistant to Wilson's successor, Elizabeth Witmer.

Hudak was re-elected with a 5,878 vote margin in the redistributed riding of Erie—Lincoln in the 1999 provincial election, and was named Minister of Northern Development and Mines on June 17, 1999.

As part of the party's Provincial Mandate and environmental program, Mr. Hudak voted to enact the Drive Clean Program.

On February 8, 2001, he was named Minister of Culture, Tourism and Recreation.

As Tourism Minister, Hudak visited 101 festivals and events across Ontario in the summer of 2001 on his More to Discover Tour.

Immediately following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Hudak called together leaders in the tourism industry and executed a plan that provided $14 million for marketing to help the industry recover.

During his time in the Ministry, he awarded nearly $300 million to rebuild aging infrastructure in communities across the province through SuperBuild's Sports, Culture and Tourism Partnership fund.

He supported Jim Flaherty's unsuccessful bid to become party leader in 2002.

On April 15, 2002, new Premier Ernie Eves appointed him Minister of Consumer and Business Services.

The Tories lost the provincial election of 2003, although Hudak was easily re-elected by a margin of 4,058 votes.

He was appointed as PC Caucus Chair and critic responsible for Public Infrastructure Renewal, and later elevated to the role of critic for both Municipal Affairs and Housing and Public Infrastructure Renewal.

In opposition, he introduced a bill to create a new retail system for Ontario Vintners Quality Alliance wines in competition with the provincial distribution system.

He also proposed Bill 75, also known as the Homestead Act, which aimed to cap residential property assessment increases at five per cent.

Hudak again supported Jim Flaherty's bid to become party leader in the 2004 PC leadership election.

In August 2005, PC leader John Tory appointed Hudak to the lead role of Official Opposition Finance Critic.

Although the Tories lost the 2007 Ontario election, Hudak won his riding with a 10,022 vote margin, gaining 51 per cent of the popular vote.

On April 2, 2009, Hudak launched his campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party.

Considered by many as the frontrunner in the race, Hudak had secured the support of over half the caucus at the launch of his campaign.

Hudak was endorsed by federal Conservative cabinet ministers John Baird and Tony Clement, who had served alongside him in the cabinets of Harris and Eves.

During the campaign, Hudak was quoted as saying that if the PCs want to regain government, they would have to make inroads in major cities and begin "reaching out to new Canadian communities.... I want to make sure that the next wave of new Canadians – whether from the Czech Republic or India or China – will see the Ontario PC party as home.".

The leader was chosen by a preferential ballot on June 27, 2009, in Markham, Ontario.

Hudak placed first out of the four candidates defeating Frank Klees, Christine Elliott, and Randy Hillier.

On July 1, he assumed the position as leader of the opposition.

In August 2009, shortly after taking power, Hudak criticized the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) after a string of controversies.

After resigning his seat in the Ontario legislature in September 2016, Hudak became the chief executive officer of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), which has its headquarters in Toronto.

Hudak was born in Fort Erie, Ontario, to Anne Marie (née Dillon) and Pat Hudak.

His father was a high school principal whose parents came to Canada from Slovakia in advance of World War II.

His mother was a teacher, of Irish and French-Canadian descent.