2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election

2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election

January 26, 2013

Candidate Kathleen Wynne Sandra Pupatello Gerard Kennedy Final ballot 1,150 (57.04%) 866 (42.96%) Withdrew First ballot 597 (28.65%) 599 (28.74%) 281 (13.48%)   Candidate Harinder Takhar Charles Sousa Eric Hoskins Final ballot Eliminated Withdrew Eliminated First ballot 235 (11.28%) 222 (10.65%) 150 (7.20%)

Leader before election Dalton McGuinty Elected Leader Kathleen Wynne

2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election

Date	January 26, 2013
Convention	Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto (Mattamy Athletic Centre, Ryerson University)
Resigning leader	Dalton McGuinty
Won by	Kathleen Wynne
Ballots	3
Candidates	7
Entrance Fee	$50,000
Spending limit	$500,000

The 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, held on January 26, 2013, at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, elected Kathleen Wynne as the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, replacing Dalton McGuinty, who announced his resignation on October 15, 2012. With the Liberals forming the Ontario government, Wynne consequently became Premier of Ontario. After leading a minority government for 18 months, she called an election after the defeat of her government's budget and she led her party to a renewed majority government in June 2014.

Background

Premier Dalton McGuinty announced his pending resignation as leader of the Liberal Party on October 15, 2012, citing a desire to bring new blood to the party leadership. McGuinty also, citing the political "logjam" in Ontario, prorogued the Legislative Assembly.

Rules and procedures

Under the procedure outlined by the party's constitution, the leader was to be chosen in a traditional delegated leadership convention in which up to 2,283 delegates were eligible to vote, made up of 1,712 elected delegates (16 elected by proportional representation in each of the 107 provincial riding associations), 419 ex officio delegates (current and former Liberal MPPs, defeated candidates from the last election, riding association presidents, party executive officers and other party officials, and federal Liberal MPs for Ontario) 144 youth delegates from 18 campus clubs and eight delegates representing the Women's Commission. Riding delegates ran on the slate of a leadership candidate or as independents, in the case of the former they were required to vote for that candidate on the first ballot but were free to change their support subsequently. Balloting at convention continued until one candidate received a majority of ballots cast.

There was a $50,000 entry fee and $500,000 spending limit not including the 25% of all money raised by candidates which had to be turned over to the party in order to pay for the convention. Candidates were not permitted to accumulate more than $100,000 in debt. Nomination papers had to be signed by at least 250 party members. The registration fee for delegates was between $249 and $599.

44,421 party members were eligible to vote in the selection of delegates. Of these, less than 15,000 had been members when McGuinty announced his departure; 27,206 were recruited by the leadership campaigns before November 24.

Timeline

Leadership candidates debate on December 1, 2012 in Ingersoll.

• December 1, 1996 – Dalton McGuinty wins the leadership election to succeed Lyn McLeod.
• October 6, 2011 – The general election returns the Liberals to power but reduces them to 53 seats in the legislature, one short of a majority.
• September 6, 2012 – By-elections are held in the ridings of Kitchener—Waterloo and Vaughan. The Liberals had hoped to win both seats in order to secure a majority; they retain Vaughan but place third in Kitchener-Waterloo which is won by the NDP.
• September 29, 2012 – The Ontario Liberal Party's Annual General Meeting endorses Dalton McGuinty's leadership of the party with the support of 86% of delegates.
• October 2, 2012 – The opposition parties combine, in committee, to pass a rare contempt motion against Energy Minister Chris Bentley over the government's decision to cancel two gas plants prior to the 2011 election at a cost of $230 million. The opposition contends that the sale occurred in order to help the Liberals retain several seats and that Bentley has not complied with a directive by the Speaker to release all documents related to the decision.
• October 15, 2012 – Dalton McGuinty announces that he will resign as Liberal Party leader and Premier of Ontario as soon as the party holds a leadership convention. McGuinty also prorogues the legislature.
• October 21, 2012 – Liberal Party executive meets to decide on a date for the leadership election and rules government the process.
• October 28, 2012 – Liberal Party executive meets to choose a venue for the convention.
• November 23, 2012, 5 pm ET (UTC−05:00) – Deadline for candidates to pay $50,000 entry fee and file nomination papers signed by at least 250 party members. Membership cut-off date for eligibility to vote for delegates.
• December 1, 2012, 1 pm ET – Ingersoll Leadership Debate
• December 9, 2012, 1 pm ET – Thunder Bay Leadership Debate
• December 18, 2012, 7 pm ET – Ottawa Leadership Debate
• January 6, 2013, 1 pm ET – Durham Region Leadership Debate
• January 9, 2013, 7 pm ET – Toronto Leadership Debate
• January 12–13, 2013 – Delegate selection meetings will be held in all 107 Ontario ridings.
• January 25, 2013 – convention opens
• January 26, 2013 – leadership election
• January 27, 2013 – convention ends

Candidates

Eric Hoskins

Eric Hoskins

Eric Hoskins is the MPP for St. Paul's (2009–2018); Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2010–2011); Minister of Children and Youth Services (2011–2012); Former President of War Child Canada

Date campaign launched: November 13, 2012

Campaign website: ericforleader.ca

Members signed up: Not disclosed

Elected delegates: 104

Endorsements - Eric Hoskins

• MPPs:(3)
  • Amrit Mangat (Mississauga—Brampton South;
  • Tracy MacCharles (Pickering—Scarborough East),
  • Margarett Best (Scarborough—Guildwood and Minister of Consumer Services)
• Former MPPs: (4)
  • Roy McMurtry (Eglinton 1975–1985, former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister),
  • Bob Wong (Fort York 1987–1990, former Liberal cabinet minister),
  • Alvin Curling (Scarborough North and Scarborough—Rouge River 1985–2005, former Liberal cabinet minister and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario),
  • Dianne Poole (Eglinton 1987–1995)
• Federal politicians:
• Former Federal politicians:(2)
  • John Turner, former Prime Minister of Canada (1984),
  • Bob Speller (MP for Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant, 1988–2004 and cabinet minister)
• Other prominent individuals:
  • K'naan,
  • Raine Maida
  • Gord Phaneuf, Past president of the Ontario Liberal Party
  • Mike Eizenga, Past president of the Ontario Liberal Party

Gerard Kennedy

Gerard Kennedy

Gerard Kennedy is a former candidate for the Ontario Liberal leadership in 1996; MPP for Parkdale—High Park (1996–2006); Minister of Education (2003–2006); Candidate for the federal Liberal leadership in 2006; MP for Parkdale—High Park (2008–2011)

Date campaign launched: November 12, 2012

Campaign website: gerardkennedy.ca

Members signed up: 5,000

Elected delegates: 257

Endorsements - Gerard Kennedy

• MPPs:(4)
  • Bob Delaney (Mississauga—Streetsville);
  • Kim Craitor (Niagara Falls);
  • Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North);
  • Vic Dhillon (Brampton West)
• Former MPPs: (4)
  • Joseph Cordiano (York South—Weston 1985–2006, former cabinet minister);
  • George Smitherman (Toronto Centre 1999–2010, former cabinet minister);
  • Steve Peters (Elgin—Middlesex—London 1999–2011, former cabinet minister);
  • Kuldip Kular (Bramalea—Gore—Malton 2003–2011)
• Federal politicians:
  • Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North)

Sandra Pupatello

Sandra Pupatello

Sandra Pupatello is the former MPP for Windsor West (1995–2011); Minister of Community and Social Services (2003–2006); Minister of Education (2006); Minister of Economic Development and Innovation (2006–2008; 2009–2011); Minister of International Trade and Investment (2008–2009); Director of business and global markets at PricewaterhouseCoopers (2011–2012)

Date campaign launched: November 8, 2012

Campaign website: sandraforleader.ca

Members signed up: 4,000

Elected delegates: 504

Endorsements -

• MPPs: (22)
  • Dwight Duncan (Windsor—Tecumseh, Deputy Premier);
  • Bob Chiarelli (Ottawa West—Nepean, Minister of Transport);
  • Teresa Piruzza (Windsor West);
  • Bill Mauro (Thunder Bay—Atikokan);
  • Phil McNeely (Ottawa—Orléans);
  • Helena Jaczek (Oak Ridges—Markham)
  • Joe Dickson (Ajax—Pickering);
  • Michael Chan (Markham—Unionville);
  • John Milloy (Kitchener Centre, Minister of Community and Social Services);
  • Madeleine Meilleur (Ottawa—Vanier, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services);
  • David Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie);
  • Grant Crack (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell);
  • Mike Colle (Eglinton—Lawrence);
  • Laura Albanese (York South—Weston);
  • Brad Duguid (Scarborough Centre, Minister of Economic Development and Innovation);
  • Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay—Superior North, Minister of Natural Resources);
  • Jeff Leal (Peterborough);
  • Bas Balkissoon (Scarborough—Rouge River);
  • Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury);
  • Laurel Broten (Etobicoke—Lakeshore);
  • Donna Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre);
  • Dipika Damerla (Mississauga East—Cooksville)

Picked up after first ballot: Amrit Mangat (Mississauga—Brampton South); Harinder Takhar (Mississauga—Erindale)

• Former MPPs: (13)
  • Carol Mitchell (Huron—Bruce 2003–2011, former cabinet minister);
  • Jean-Marc Lalonde (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell 1995–2011);
  • Pat Hoy (Chatham-Kent—Essex 1995–2011);
  • Robert Nixon (Brant/Brant--Oxford--Norfolk/Brant--Haldimand 1962–1991, Provincial Treasurer 1985–1990, Liberal leader 1967–1976);
  • Sean Conway (Renfrew North/Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke 1975–2003, Education Minister in Peterson cabinet);
  • David Caplan (Don Valley East 1997 – 2011);
  • Don Boudria (Prescott and Russell 1981 – 1984);
  • Eric Cunningham (Wentworth North 1975 – 1984);
  • Murray Elston (Huron—Bruce 1981–1994, former cabinet minister and interim leader);
  • Tim Murphy (St. George—St. David 1993–1995, former party president);
  • Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre 1987–1990, 1995–2007);
  • Mario Racco (Thornhill 2003–2007);
  • Elinor Caplan (Oriole, 1985–1997, former provincial and federal health minister)
• Federal politicians:
  • John McCallum (Markham—Unionville, former cabinet minister);
• Former federal politicians: (2)
  • Belinda Stronach (Newmarket—Aurora 2004–2008, former cabinet minister);
  • Joe Volpe (Eglinton—Lawrence 1988–2011, former cabinet minister)

Picked up after first ballot: John Turner, former Prime Minister of Canada (1984)

• Municipal politicians: (2)
  • Gary McNamara, Mayor of Tecumseh, Ontario
  • Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, Ontario

Charles Sousa

Charles Sousa

Charles Sousa is the MPP for Mississauga South (2007–2018); Minister of Labour (2010–2011); Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2011–2012)

Date campaign launched: November 10, 2012

Campaign website: votesousa.ca

Members signed up: 6,000

Elected delegates: 198

Endorsements - Charles Sousa

• MPPs: (2)
  • Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest);
  • Soo Wong (Scarborough—Agincourt)
• Formal federal politicians: (1)
  • John David Maloney (Welland 1993–2008)
• Municipal politicians: (3)
  • Hazel McCallion (Mayor of Mississauga - later moved to support Wynne on the convention floor),
  • Ana Bailão, Toronto City Councillor, Ward 18 Davenport,
  • Frank Monteiro, Cambridge City Councillor, Ward 7
• Other prominent individuals: (2)
  • Nerene Virgin, journalist, actress and past Liberal candidate
  • Indira Naidoo-Harris, journalist and past Liberal candidate

Harinder Takhar

Harinder Takhar

Harinder Takhar is the MPP for Mississauga—Erindale (2003–2018); Minister of Transportation (2003–2006; Minister of Consumer Services (2006–2009); Minister of Government Services (2009–2012)

Date campaign announced: November 22, 2012

Campaign website: votetakhar.com

Members signed up: 4,000

Elected delegates: 244

Endorsements - Harinder Takhar

• Municipal politicians: Bonnie Crombie, Mississauaga city councillor and former MP

Kathleen Wynne

Kathleen Wynne

Kathleen Wynne is the MPP for Don Valley West (2003–present), Minister of Education (2006–2010); Minister of Transportation (2010–2011); Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Aboriginal Affairs (2011–2012); Toronto District School Board Trustee Ward 8 (2000–2003)

Date campaign launched: November 5, 2012

Campaign website: kathleenwynne.ca

Members signed up: 8,000

Elected delegates: 463

Endorsements - Kathleen Wynne

• MPPs: (10)
  • Michael Coteau (Don Valley East);
  • John Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands, Attorney General);
  • Linda Jeffrey (Brampton—Springdale, Minister of Labour);
  • Deb Matthews, (London North Centre, Minister of Health);
  • Ted McMeekin (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, Minister of Agriculture);
  • Reza Moridi (Richmond Hill);
  • Liz Sandals, (Guelph);
  • Mario Sergio (York West);
  • David Zimmer, (Willowdale);
  • Glen Murray, (Toronto Centre, former Minister of Colleges and Universities)

Picked up after first ballot: Margarett Best (Scarborough—Guildwood and Minister of Consumer Services); Eric Hoskins (St. Paul's); Tracy MacCharles (Pickering—Scarborough East)

Picked up after second ballot: Vic Dhillon (Brampton West); Shafiq Qaadri (Etobicoke North); Charles Sousa (Mississauga South); Soo Wong (Scarborough—Agincourt)

• Former MPPs: (14)
  • Stuart Smith (Hamilton West 1975–1982, former Ontario Liberal leader);
  • Charles Beer (York North 1987–1995, former cabinet minister);
  • Marie Bountrogianni (Hamilton Mountain 1999–2007, former cabinet minister);
  • Mike Brown (Algoma-Manitoulin 1987–2011, former Speaker of the Ontario Legislature);
  • Michael Bryant (St. Paul's 1999–2009, former Attorney General);
  • Aileen Carroll (Barrie 2007–11, former cabinet minister, former MP Barrie 1997–2006, former federal cabinet minister);
  • Sheila Copps (Hamilton Centre 1981–84, former MP Hamilton East 1984–2004, former Deputy Prime Minister and federal cabinet minister),
  • Mary Anne Chambers (Scarborough East 2003–07, former cabinet minister),
  • Christine Hart (York East 1986–1990, former cabinet minister);
  • Lyn McLeod (Thunder Bay—Atikokan 1987–2003, former cabinet minister and Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party);
  • Jennifer Mossop (Stoney Creek 2003–07);
  • Dave Neumann (Brantford 1987–1990, former Mayor of Brantford),
  • Monique Smith (Nipissing 2003–11, former cabinet minister);
  • John Wilkinson, (Perth—Wellington 2003–2011, former Minister of the Environment)
• Federal politicians: (11)
  • Bill Graham (Toronto Centre 1995–2007, former interim Liberal Party leader, foreign minister, defence minister);
  • Barry Campbell (St. Paul's 1993–97);
  • David Collenette (Don Valley East 1993–2004, former cabinet minister);
  • John Godfrey (Don Valley West 1993–2008, former cabinet minister);
  • Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands);
  • Lorna Marsden (Senator 1984–92));
  • Dennis Mills (Toronto—Danforth 1988–2004);
  • Rob Oliphant (Don Valley West 2008–11),
  • Paddy Torsney (Burlington 1993–2006);
  • Bryon Wilfert (Richmond Hill 1997–2011); Senator
  • Nancy Ruth (Conservative – Cluny, Ontario);
• Municipal politicians: (2)
  • Sharon Barkley (Milton councillor),
  • Shelley Carroll (Toronto Councillor for Ward 33 Don Valley East); John Sewell (former Mayor of Toronto 1978–1980)
• Other prominent individuals:
  • Anne Golden, former president of United Way of Greater Toronto and Conference Board of Canada

Withdrew prior to convention

Glen Murray

Glen Murray

Background: MPP for Toronto Centre (2010–present), Minister of Research and Innovation (2010–2011); Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities (2011–2012); CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute (2007–2010); Mayor of Winnipeg (1998–2004)

Date campaign launched: November 4, 2012

Date of withdrawal: January 10, 2013

Endorsed: Kathleen Wynne

Campaign website: www.renewliberal.ca

Supporters

• MPPs: (1) Kevin Flynn (Oakville)
• Former MPPs: (1) Elinor Caplan (Oriole 1985–1997, former provincial and federal cabinet minister)
• Federal politicians:
• Municipal politicians:
• Other prominent individuals:

Members signed up: 3,000

Declined to run

• Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, MPP for Sudbury.
• Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy and MPP for London West – retiring from politics
• Jim Bradley, Minister of Environment and MPP for St. Catharines
• Laurel Broten, Minister of Education and MPP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore
• Michael Bryant, former Attorney-General
• David Caplan, former Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (2007–2009)
• Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean
• Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and MPP for Scarborough Centre
• Dwight Duncan, Deputy Premier, Finance Minister and MPP for Windsor—Tecumseh – retiring from politics
• John Gerretsen, Attorney-General and MPP for Kingston and the Islands
• Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-term Care and MPP for London North Centre
• Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre and President of the Ontario Liberal Party.
• David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie.
• Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, Ontario
• George Smitherman, former Deputy Premier
• John Wilkinson, former Minister of the Environment

Opinion polling

All Ontarians

Poll source	Date	1st	2nd	3rd	Other
Forum Research Sample size: 644	January 23–24, 2013	Gerard Kennedy 33%	Sandra Pupatello 26%	Kathleen Wynne 25%	Eric Hoskins 11%, Charles Sousa 3%, Harinder Takhar 1%
Forum Research Sample size: 425	December 17, 2012	Gerard Kennedy 36%	Kathleen Wynne 23%	Sandra Pupatello 20%	Glen Murray 9%, Eric Hoskins 7%, Charles Sousa 3%, Harinder Takhar 1%
Forum Research Sample size: 1,127	November 27–28, 2012	Gerard Kennedy 16%	Sandra Pupatello 10%	Kathleen Wynne 8%	Eric Hoskins 3%, Glen Murray 2%, Charles Sousa 2%, Harinder Takhar 2%, None of these 30%, Don't know 27%
Innovative Research Group Sample size: 600	October 17–22, 2012	Dwight Duncan 5%	Kathleen Wynne 5%	Deb Matthews 3%	David McGuinty 3%, Jim Watson 2%, Eric Hoskins 1%, Glen Murray 1%, Yasir Naqvi 1%, Charles Sousa 1%, John Wilkinson 0%, Someone else / other 10%, Don't know 42%, None / no one / refused 26%

Liberal supporters only

Poll source	Date	1st	2nd	3rd	Other
Forum Research Sample size: 215	January 23–24, 2013	Gerard Kennedy 33%	Sandra Pupatello 28%	Kathleen Wynne 27%	Eric Hoskins 6%, Charles Sousa 4%, Harinder Takhar 3%
Forum Research Sample size: 149	December 17, 2012	Gerard Kennedy 29%	Sandra Pupatello 26%	Kathleen Wynne 22%	Glen Murray 11%, Eric Hoskins 9%, Charles Sousa 3%, Harinder Takhar 0%
Forum Research Sample size: 313	November 27–28, 2012	Gerard Kennedy 25%	Sandra Pupatello 16%	Kathleen Wynne 13%	Eric Hoskins 3%, Charles Sousa 3%, Harinder Takhar 3%, Glen Murray 2%, None of these 6%, Don't know 29%

Results

Delegate selection meetings

A total of 1,857 delegates were elected from Ontario's 107 electoral districts (1,712), and from the Ontario Liberal Party's 18 youth and 8 women's clubs (141). The delegates were selected over the weekend of January 12–13, with 896 elected on January 12 from the 905 region and northern and eastern Ontario and 957 elected on January 13 from Toronto and southwestern Ontario. Most of these delegates elected were pledged to support one of the leadership candidates on the first ballot at the January 25 convention, while some were independents who could vote for whomever they chose at the convention. An additional 419 ex-officio delegates were eligible to vote at the convention by virtue of party and elected offices they have held.

Convention results

  = Eliminated from next round

  = Withdrew nomination

  = Winner

Delegate support by ballot

Candidate		Committed	Ballot 1	Ballot 2		Ballot 3
Name		Votes	Votes	Votes	+/- (pp)	Votes	+/- (pp)
	Sandra Pupatello	509 27.4%	599 28.74%	817 39.4%	+10.7	866 43.0%	+5.8%
	Kathleen Wynne	468 25.2%	597 28.65%	750 36.2%	+7.6	1,150 57.0%	+20.8
	Gerard Kennedy	260 14.0%	281 13.5%	285 13.7%	+0.2	Endorsed Wynne
	Harinder Takhar	244 13.1%	235 11.3%	18 0.9%	-10.4	Endorsed Pupatello[A]
	Charles Sousa	204 11.0%	222 10.7%	203 9.8%	-0.9	Endorsed Wynne
	Eric Hoskins	105 5.7%	150 7.2%	Endorsed Wynne
Independent		67 3.6%
	Glen Murray	Endorsed Wynne
Votes cast and net change by ballot
Total		1,857	2,084	2,073	-11	2,016	-57

^A Takhar endorsed Pupatello before the second ballot voting took place, but after the deadline to drop off the ballot.