CROSBY
- Dalton McGuinty and the man who wants his job, John Tory, were forced
to confront their political demons yesterday during visits to Ontario’s
largest agricultural event.

For Mr. McGuinty, it was the memory
of being booed at the same event three years earlier. For Mr. Tory, it
was the presence of Randy Hillier, a right-wing Conservative candidate
who threatens to spoil the party’s new moderate image.

Both men
joined New Democratic leader Howard Hampton on a foray into Eastern
Ontario, where the annual International Plowing Match is being held.
The event has attracted as many as 170,000 visitors over four days.

Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty arrived late to the Ontario Plowing Match in
Crosby yesterday in a vintage pickup truck, flanked by screaming
supporters. Four years ago, the premier endured a chorus of boos at the
same event, so this year, his handlers left nothing to chance.

Wayne Cuddington, The Ottawa Citizen

Mr.
McGuinty was booed at the event three years ago as he rode in a Liberal
parade float, jeered by cattlemen frustrated by mad cow-related border
closings. Yesterday, as has been the habit of his well-orchestrated
campaign, Liberal strategists left nothing to chance.

The
campaign buses arrived after the parade had ended and Mr. McGuinty was
escorted to the opening ceremonies in the cab of a vintage pickup truck.

Seven
breathless young supporters jogged beside the vehicle and screamed
approval as the premier entered the event through a back route. Liberal
officials said Mr. McGuinty was late because of a morning event, which
didn’t bother either of his opponents.

"I remember the reception
he got three years ago, but what he did and why he did it I can’t
speculate on," Mr. Tory said when asked whether his rival was ducking
the crowds. "He sets his schedule and I set mine."

After the
opening ceremonies were over, Mr. McGuinty, accompanied by federal
Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, spent seven minutes shaking hands with
agricultural fair-goers, but did not stray far from the Liberal tent.
In his shadow was someone dressed as Pinocchio, a "truth in taxes"
mascot devised by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, that has dogged
the premier throughout the nine-day campaign.

"McGuinty, why are
you running away from your record?" Pinocchio’s handler yelled out. The
puppet — and its foot-long nose — were kept at bay by a handful of
Liberal supporters.

"Stay away or I’ll break your nose," one man quietly threatened.

One
man refused to shake the premier’s hand. Brent Barr-Taylor complained
to Mr. McGuinty about a provincially funded program for children with
autism that he said is not administered by trained professionals.

Autism funding is an issue that has dogged the Liberals throughout their four-year tenure.

Mr.
Barr-Taylor said his 10-year-old autistic daughter, Diana, is refused
treatment because she’s not enrolled at the school that offers it. The
premier listened, then offered the man his hand. Mr. Barr-Taylor later
said he did not feel right shaking it.

"As he was leaving, he said: ‘One thing my father taught me is you should never refuse a man’s hand.’

"If I had the chance, I would have told him respect has to be earned, not given."

Conservative
leader John Tory, meanwhile, had problems of his own. Mr. Tory appeared
taken aback when he entered the VIP tent after the speeches and noticed
his own right-wing candidate, Randy Hillier, among the guests.

Mr. Hillier, founder of the controversial Lanark (now Ontario)
Landowners Association, gained notoriety for his group’s
often-confrontational tactics with police and provincial inspectors.
The libertarian activist, known for his trademark red suspenders,
tapped into a groundswell of rural resentment and is now a Conservative
candidate in Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington.

Liberal
operatives have focused on Mr. Hillier’s candidacy as a way to cast
aspersions on Mr. Tory’s moderate remake of his Conservative party.
They have also openly mused about trying to get photos of the two men
together (a Liberal photographer was on hand throughout the encounter).

When
confronted with Mr. Hillier’s presence yesterday, Mr. Tory lingered
briefly at the entrance of the VIP tent, then left to huddle with
advisers outside.

When
he reappeared moments later, he was circled by a crowd. The two men
never shook hands. Asked about the incident, a senior Conservative
official insisted Mr. Tory isn’t avoiding Mr. Hillier and pointed to a
Conservative parade float the two men rode in together, along with
about 18 other people.

"I was talking to him all morning," said Mr. Hillier.

If Mr. McGuinty was trying to stay away from Mr. Hillier, he was not so lucky.

The
Ottawa-born premier, hand outstretched, made what one can only guess
was an accidental beeline for Mr. Hillier as he entered the tent.

The premier’s personal photographer snapped a shot of the two men shaking hands.

"It’s not us who have to worry," said a senior Liberal on the campaign trail.

"It’s him (Tory)."

Follow the Leaders

NDP leader Howard Hampton

8:30 a.m.: Campaign Announcement in Windsor

12:15 p.m.: Addresses Service Employees International Union Convention in Windsor

3:15 p.m.: Health care announcement at London Health Sciences Centre.

Conservative leader John Tory

9 a.m.: Campaign announcement, Queen’s Park, Toronto

Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty

7:10 a.m.: Live radio appearance on CFRB, Toronto

8:50 a.m.: Visit to Indigo Books and Music, Toronto

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007