" I have worked with John Tory in Progressive Conservative party activities for a long time, " said Ruho Paluoja. He adds, " It almost feels like we are family ... “ political family, that is.
Mind you, Paluoja has been involved in PC Party activities for well over twenty years so political family can seem to last much longer than many marriages. Paluoja, who is a Professor and Department Head at Seneca College, has run for political office as school board trustee, been Ministerial Assistant to Brian Mulroney era Minister Pauline Browes and worked on most Progressive Conservative Prime Ministerial and Premier advance teams (the people that organize everything behind the scenes when the PM or Preem come to speak) in between.
Paluoja's advance work took him out of Canada as well. He escorted Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to the Soviet Union in 1989, at a time when the Baltic independence movements were reaching their crescendo. This was also the year that the Berlin Wall came down.
Paluoja helped the break, through Canada's push for Estonian independence by escorting the Minister of International Trade, Michael Wilson to Estonia, to meet the Communist era Estonian Prime Minister and telling him, " Canada supports Estonian Independence" , in 1991.
" In most of those campaigns John Tory has been with me, " said Paluoja, adding " During those times I imagine John has learned something about Estonia. When John was involved in trying to get CFMT-TV ( now OMNI-TV ) a transfer of ownership to Rogers, while he headed up Rogers Media/Cable, he was grateful for the support we in the Estonian community gave him. "
Paluoja, when asked to define Tory, explained, " People try to define John Tory as Red Tory but I see him as mainly " Moderate Tory " , one who deals with broad issues rather than painting himself into a corner. Harris and many of the candidates now define themselves as either rural or urban. John Tory believes in being both. He has support from Bob Runciman, a law and order supporter from Eastern Ontario on one side and Eleanor Whitmer who was a standardbearer for women's rights on the other. John has many other supporters like John O'Toole, MPP who during the last leadership backed Jim Flaherty, former Minister Janet Ecker and others. Tory has taken the best of former Premiers like Bill Davis to Frank Miller to Mike Harris and even Ernie Eves. "
" The most important supporter of John Tory is the new Federal Member of Parliament for York-Simcoe-Jõekääru, Peter Van Loan, " said Paluoja with a smile.
" One of John Tory's issues, that I agree with is taking much of the decision making to the backbenches of the party and out of the hands of ‘political professionals’, " said Paluoja.
When asked about John Tory's standing in the race Paluoja is reticent to make any outright comments. He simply said, " The Star puts John Tory ahead but it'll be a matter now of getting the vote out. "
Paluoja and Tory have been in the trenches of politics for a long time and their experience is lengthy even longer than many sitting in legislature. Further information on Tory can be acquired on www.ToryforOntario.com <http://www.ToryforOntario.com> , Paluoja doesn't have a website ... yet.