Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory presented himself as the most
accountable and honest leader today, as polls show his party set to play second
fiddle to the Liberals following the Oct. 10 election.

Tory used a visit to the veterans’ wing of a hospital and played host of a
radio call-in show to assert himself as a political leader with higher standards
than Premier Dalton McGuinty.

"He has been dishonest with the people, he has misled the people, he has
failed to keep his word … over and over and over again," Tory said on
Toronto radio station CFRB.

"Is that a standard you’re prepared to endorse with your vote on Wednesday?
Do you want four more years of that?" he said.

The latest Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll shows the Conservatives
remaining second to the Liberals with 31 per cent of support among voters polled
between Oct. 4 and 7.

The Liberals were at 42 per cent, with the New Democrats polling at 17 per
cent.

"If you’re going to say politics as usual, and just accept a lower standard
that’s to be applied to politicians, I guess your choice rests with someone
other than me," Tory said.

Controversy over Tory’s initial pledge to fund more religious schools has
dogged the Conservative leader throughout the campaign. Last week he virtually
killed the proposal by promising to put it to a free vote in the legislature if
he is elected on Wednesday.

Tory took calls about autism funding, Ontario’s health
tax and family doctors while hosting a noon hour call-in show, repeating his
campaign pledges to help the "most vulnerable," be they children, families or
the elderly.

He met with veterans at Sunnybrook Hospital earlier in the day, where he
stressed that his party is the one most concerned about seniors and long-term
care.

Tory said voters just need to look at his extensive public service record
prior to entering politics to see that he has a higher standard of integrity
than McGuinty.

"I think people better ask themselves, are they seeing something here that’s
sincere, as opposed to someone that spent his life trying to help people who are
less fortunate, and who’s going to look forward and try to do better for these
people if allowed to govern," he said to reporters outside Sunnybrook.

Later in the day Tory will be serving Thanksgiving dinner at a homeless
shelter in downtown Toronto.