HILL RESIGNS POST, CALLS FOR LEADER’S RESIGNATION   

May 15, 2001   

OTTAWA- Today, senior Canadian Alliance MP Jay Hill (Prince George – Peace River) announced that he was resigning his position as Chief Opposition Transportation Critic and was joining his fellow colleagues in calling for the resignation of the party leader, Stockwell Day. 

“For the sake of the party, Stockwell Day must resign.  Since his election as leader of the Canadian Alliance in July there has been a long litany of problems associated with his leadership.” began Hill, “These errors in judgment have brought about a rapid decline in the support for the Canadian Alliance and when combined with more recent events, they have forced me to make an incredibly difficult decision. I can no longer sit as a member of a Stockwell Day lead caucus.”

Hill was referring to commitments made by Day during the unveiling of his “strategic plan” following the resignation of Chuck Strahl, Deborah Gray and Grant McNally from their high profile positions within the party.

“I want to be clear that I am not resigning from the Canadian Alliance, I have every intention of continuing to work hard to represent my constituents. I will be joining with other MP’s, who have likewise lost confidence in Mr. Day, to uphold Canadian Alliance principles, promote our policies and hold the government to account.” concluded Hill.

Mr. Hill first ran for the reform party in 1988 and was elected for the first time in 1993. He was re-elected in 1997 and again in 2000 where he secured 70% of voter support in his riding.