I'm surprised to see Ernie Eves make such a stupid strategic error. If he does, in fact, mean that he doesn't intend to impose his personal values on the province, it would have been a better move to keep his mouth shut.

In making this statement, he might have been attempting to pander to those who are vehemently opposed to same-sex marriage. However, he isn't actually attempting to make any policy to eliminate same-sex marriage, and lip service isn't likely to earn him any extra votes. Also, he is the leader of the most right-wing provincial party in Ontario (with the possible exception of fringe parties that I've never heard of and never win seats), so people who are opposed to same-sex marriage are most likely to vote for his party anyway. So he has won few, if any, votes, but likely lost the votes of every queer conservative in the province and the few other conservatives who support same-sex marriage. If it's a question of a politician whose fiscal policy you like versus a politician who respects your human rights, I think human rights are going to win out every time.