The results of the third, and final ballot were released this evening. Tim Hudak was formally named as the 21st leader of the Ontario PC party! As the runner-up, Frank Klees asked convention members to make the results unanimous. As Frank said: “it has been an honour and privilege to participate in our leadership process. It is our responsibility as candidates to unite behind Tim Hudak and win the next election.”
Ontrario’s next Premier said party members have spoken – Dalton has 832 days left.
To thunderous applause, and with all four leadership candidates standing on stage, Tim said: “it’s time for a change, let’s make Ontario Number One again!”
Premier Harris just finished addressing a crowd of Hudak, Elliott and Hillier supporters in Tim Hudak’s suite – saying nothing is more important than coming together as a party when this is all over.
Referencing the tough leadership race that brought him to power in 1990, he said there was no more loyal a supporter the day after his leadership, then his rival Dianne Cunningham.
I post this with some hesitation. I have said threats will never silence me, but I would be lying if I said they don’t stick in the back of your mind, especially when you do something that you know will ruffle the feathers of the folks who threatened you.
But what the folks at the Ontario Liberal Party, or more appropriately the political staff at Queen’s Park have done this weekend requires comment.
This video below will cover two press releases I received from two Liberal staffers that were being distributed to all media. They can hardly say they didn’t want it covered, but they may not like my angle.
We’re headed to a third ballot, with Christine Elliott dropping off after the second ballot results were announced. Congratulations to Christine and her team for running an outstanding campaign. She will truly be a major force in the Ontario PC Party for years to come.
107 of 107 Ridings:
15:06:
Hudak 4128
Klees 3299
Elliott 2903
Ajax Pickering – Elliott wins
Algoma Manitoulin – Hudak wins
Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale – Hudak wins
Barrie – Hudak wins
Beaches-East York – Klees wins
Bramalea-Gore-Malton – Klees wins
Brampton Springdale – Klees wins
Brampton West – Klees wins
Brant – Hudak wins
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound – Elliott wins
Burlington – Hudak wins
Cambridge – Klees wins
Carleton-Missippi Mills – Hudak wins
Chatham Kent Essex – Hudak wins
Davenport – Klees wins
Don Valley East – Klees wins
Don Valley West – Hudak wins
Dufferin-Caledon – Elliott wins
Durham – Elliott wins
Eglington Lawrence – Elliott wins
Elgin Middlesex London – Klees wins
Essex – Elliott wins
Etobicoke Centre – Elliott wins
Etobicoke Lakeshore – Klees wins
Etobicoke North – Hudak wins
Glengarry-Prescott-Russell – Hudak wins
Guelph – Hudak wins
Haldimand-Norfolk – Hudak wins
Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock – Hudak wins
Halton – Hudak wins
Hamilton Centre – Hudak wins
Hamilton East-Stoney Creek – Hudak wins
Hamilton Mountain – Hudak wins
Huron Bruce – Klees wins
Kenora-Rainy River – Hudak wins
Kingston and the Islands – Elliott wins
Kitchener Centre – Klees wins
Kitchener Conestoga – Klees wins
Kitchener Waterloo – Elliott wins
Lambton Kent Middlesex – Hudak wins
Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington – Hudak wins
Leeds-Grenville – Hudak wins
London-Fanshawe – Hudak wins
London North Centre – Hudak wins
London West – Hudak wins
Markham-Unionville – Klees wins
Mississauga-Brampton South – Klees wins
Mississauga East Cooksville – Klees wins
Mississauga Erindale – Klees wins
Mississauga South – Klees wins
Mississauga Streetsville – Hudak wins
Nepean Carleton – Hudak wins
Newmarket Aurora – Klees wins
Niagara Falls – Hudak wins
Niagara West Glanbrook – Hudak wins
Nickel Belt – Klees wins
Nipissing – Hudak wins
Northumberland-Quinte West – Hudak wins
Oak Ridges-Markham – Klees wins
Oakville – Elliott wins
Oshawa – Elliott wins
Ottawa Centre – Hudak wins
Ottawa-Orleans – Hudak wins
Ottawa South – Hudak wins
Ottawa Vanier – Elliott wins
Ottawa West Nepean – Hudak wins
Oxford – Hudak wins
Parkdale-High Park – Klees wins
Parry Sound-Muskoka – Hudak wins
Perth-Wellington – Hudak wins
Peterborough – Elliott wins
Pickering-Scarborough East – Elliott wins
Prince Edward-Hastings – Hudak wins
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke – Hudak wins
Richmond Hill – Klees wins
St Catharines – Hudak wins
St Paul’s – Elliott wins
Sarnia-Lambton – Hudak wins
Sault Ste Marie – Elliott wins
Scarborough-Agincourt – Hudak wins
Scarborough Centre – Klees wins
Scarborough Guildwood – Klees wins
Scarborough Rouge River – Klees wins
Scarborough Southwest – Klees wins
Simcoe-Grey – Hudak wins
Simcoe-North – Hudak wins
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry – Elliott wins
Sudbury – Klees wins
Thornhill – Klees wins
Thunder Bay-Atikokan – Klees wins
Thunder Bay-Superior North – Hudak wins
Timiskaming-Cochrane – Hudak wins
Timmins-James Bay – Hudak wins
Toronto Centre – Elliott wins
Toronto Danforth – Elliott wins
Trinity Spadina – Hudak wins
Vaughan – Hudak wins
Welland – Hudak wins
Wellington-Halton Hills – Elliott wins
Whitby-Oshawa – Elliott wins
Willowdale – Klees wins
Windsor-Tecumseh – Hudak wins
Windsor West – Hudak wins
York Centre – Klees wins
York Simcoe – Klees wins
York South Weston – Elliott wins
York West – Elliott wins
John Tory’s daughter Susan has taken to the stage to offer a personal glimpse into John’s life. All the party luminaries are here – Bill Davis is front and centre. Ernie Eves is here and all four of the leadership contenders are paying tribute. Says Susan of her father: “your honour and integrity is a model for everyone.” John has a tear in his eye from Susan’s touching tribute.
Next up is Norm Miller, representing the Ontario PC caucus. “John stepped down with his integrity intact…he worked harder and longer than any leader we’ve ever had.” “John Tory offered positive solutions…John Tory is a person of courage, compassion and integrity. No matter what he chooses to do next, Canada will be better off for it.” Finer words have not been spoken.
Bill Davis has taken the stage to pay tribute to John, and offer his advice for the party: “as part of the 42-years in power, there was still at the very root of the party, a sense that we had a very specific responsibility to look after those Ontarians who couldn’t look after themselves.” To those who aspire to the leadership – “we will go into the next election united and strong.”
JOHN TORY TRIBUTE – PART 2
Bill Davis: “I love this party.”
On John Tory: “he had the interests of the people of Ontario at heart. I think of very few individuals…he can live with himself because he believes in what he is doing and what he’s done – you will continue to serve the people of this city and this province. I will continue to refer to you as the finest premier Ontario never had.”
A touching moment.
JOHN TORY TRIBUTE – PART 2
John Tory thanked his family, friends – including Bill Davis – and party members in his speech. He said the Ontario PC party is at the very heart of society. He challenged all of us to maintain an open, growing and inclusive party. He said Job 1 has to be a united party coming out of this convention. “This party does well when it’s united.” Looking to the future, John said this is the party of Elliott AND Hillier AND Hudak AND Klees. United and strong, we will win.
As no candidate achieved 50% of the vote on the first ballot, the candidate in last place will drop off, and the ballots will be re-counted. Randy Hillier will be dropped for the next round.
Congratulations to Team Hillier for a campaign well-run – full of ideas, energy and enthusiasm.
The roll call for the second ballot is expected after lunch today.
