TORONTO - Election season in Ontario is over. Dalton McGuinty has been reduced to a minority government. Tim Hudak has gained more than a dozen seats. The outcome is disappointing for many. Post-election bitterness has proliferated amongst the PC ranks, and some are blaming Hudak for Thursday's results. To do so is the height of folly. There was much more at play on Thursday than any failure on the part of the PC Party.

The first criticism, from the right wing, has been levelled at changebook. The Ontario PC platform was a pragmatic mix of red meat conservatism and acceptance of what Ontarians wanted. The platform called for income splitting, the removal of HST from home heating and hydro, and 5% income tax relief for those making less than $75 000 a year. At the same time, it also committed to increase funding for public healthcare and education, as well as full day kindergarten.

This pragmatism was a political necessity. Any suggestion of healthcare or education cuts would have been political suicide for Hudak. Such a pledge would have played right into the hands of Liberal spin doctors, twisting Hudak as a hack-and-slash conservative.

Yet another criticism from conservatives has been Hudak's pledge to reform Ontario's Human Rights Commissions, rather than to abolish them outright. This would have been politically unfeasible. It simply was not an election issue. For Hudak to have talked about Human Rights Commissions while Ontarians were concerned about the economy would have been bad politics. Angus Reid noted in their final pre-election poll that the economy was the primary electoral issue for 30% of Ontarians. It was followed by unemployment and healthcare at 13%, tax relief at 10%, and government spending at 9%. Critics should note that the OHRC isn't on this list.

I will respect that many conservatives were angry when Hudak shifted his stance on the OHRC. But he is to be lauded for pledging to reform the OHRC, while his political opponents continue to ignore the issue.

While Dalton McGuinty may have won the election, Tim Hudak earned many laurels on Thursday. His party gained a dozen seats, winning more than in any election since 1999. He came very close to tying the popular vote with McGuinty. He robbed McGuinty of a majority, with 17 seats clawed away from the Liberal government. For a first time party leader that is not an unimpressive resume.

In his first election in 1990, Mike Harris only gained 4 seats. He then roared into a majority government in 1995. Ontario PCs should keep that in mind when evaluating Hudak's leadership.

It is also important to remember that Ontarians are vote splitters. It is extremely rare for Ontario to elect the same party to government in Queen's Park that they do in Ottawa. It has happened only a few times in 144 years of provincial political history. While Ontario voted to give Jean Chretien his majorities, they also handed majorities to Mike Harris.

Stephen won Canada on the back of 73 seats from Ontario. This presented a significant handicap for Hudak.

Technically Dalton McGuinty was Thursday's winner. He was also the loser too. Without his majority, he will rely upon NDP backing in the Legislature to keep his weakened government afloat. As he turns further to the left to appease them, Hudak's PCs have the opportunity to define themselves as the principled voice of the centre-right. Hudak's leadership has brought them new strength in the House, as well as a rebuilt party infrastructure and fundraising capacity.

Don't count him out: Tim Hudak hasn't been barred from the Premier's office yet.