Toronto

Toronto’s only Conservative MPP is in Tim Hudak’s corner.

Doug Holyday, the former city councillor and newly-elected MPP in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, said that those within the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party need to put their “ambition” aside and support Hudak as their leader.

“People should put some of their own ambition aside and for the good of the party, and Conservatives should just get onside,” Holyday said Monday. “Tim’s a good leader and he’ll be a great premier. He just needs a chance.”

Hudak has come under fire from fellow Tories following poor showings in last week’s byelections, winning only one of five possible seats.

Holyday, who beat Liberal contender Peter Milczyn in a tight race, said it’s inaccurate to gauge Hudak’s performance based on byelection results.

“I don’t think it’s the fault of Tim Hudak,” Holyday insisted. “Some might, but I don’t think it’s fair. The lower the turnout, the better the chance the governing party has of winning one. If anyone should be looking at their leader, it should be the Liberals. It wasn’t just ordinary seats. These were Liberal strongholds, they were cabinet ministers’ seats, including the former premier’s.”

Hudak was out of the country Monday on vacation and couldn’t be reached for comment, according to his spokesman, Jacqui Delaney.

Lisa MacLeod, the Conservative MPP for Nepean-Carleton, said the PCs won the popular vote in all five byelection ridings.

“We may not have won where they Liberals were decimated,” she said Monday. “Toronto, which is typically a New Democrat stronghold, our party placed second above the NDP. Tim has been our leader — he took us through our last election and he’ll take us through our next one.”

Holyday said the only advice he could offer Hudak is to get more Conservative candidates in areas that have been typically NDP or Liberal-strongholds “with higher-profile candidates.”

jenny.yuen@sunmedia.ca