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


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

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 -
Picked up after first ballot: Amrit Mangat (Mississauga—Brampton South); Harinder Takhar (Mississauga—Erindale)
Picked up after first ballot: John Turner, former Prime Minister of Canada (1984)

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

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
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)

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

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
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.