TORONTO

Less red tape, lower taxes and new labour laws — those were the promises made by PC Leader Tim Hudak in a speech Wednesday to the Ontario PC GTA Leader’s Dinner.

“When leaders are confronted with tough times, they are required to rise to the challenge, not turn out the lights and go home like we’ve seen at Queen’s Park lately,” Hudak said, according to a prepared copy of his remarks.

Hudak told the crowd, which included developers, that the building industry is too hamstrung by red tape.

A Tory government would insist that decisions made by conservation authorities would be based on science, and appealable to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

“One more rule over your industry is one less roof over a family’s head,” he said. Without enough disposal income, Ontario families aren’t spending on new cars and new homes, he said.

Hudak also reiterated his call for more underground transit in Toronto, despite a provincial government-city council agreement to build surface light rail transit.

Hudak would entertain allowing workers to opt out of unions in a workplace, he said.

The Tories would also cut government spending even if it puts public employees out of work.

“It starts with only as much government as we can afford. I’ll approach government the same way you approach your businesses,” Hudak told the crowd. “If a bureaucrat is not needed, redundant or not doing their job, then they won’t be on our payroll.”