Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives new leader is Doug Ford.The announcement comes after a delay that lasted more than seven hours as party officials reviewed the results of the vote.
Congratulations to FordNation, our new Leader and Ontario's future Premier!
Posted by Ontario PC Party on Sunday, March 11, 2018
Ford becomes the leader of Ontario’s official opposition and will lead the charge to unseat Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne in an election that’s just three months away.
He defeated opponents Christine Elliott, Toronto lawyer Caroline Mulroney and social conservative advocate Tanya Granic Allen to secure the leadership.
Following a long, drawn-out process to count then review the more than 64,000 electronic ballots cast by party members, Ford narrowly edged out former MPP Christine Elliott.
Ford said, “I will get our party back on track.”
“To the people of Ontario, I say relief is on its way. And to Kathleen Wynne I say your days as premier are numbered.”
Ford’s coronation as party leader marks the culmination of a tumultuous six weeks in Tory circles that began late in the evening on Jan. 24.
Ford replaces Patrick Brown as leader after he abruptly resigned in late January amid sexual misconduct allegations, which that he vehemently denies.
THANK YOU ONTARIO! Thank you for your trust, thank you to the PC members, thank you to the volunteers and thank you to all the other candidates. Together we will put Ontario back on track. #Pcpoldr #pcpo #ford pic.twitter.com/KEb8JvRQXt
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 11, 2018
Ford’s coronation as party leader marks the culmination of a tumultuous six weeks in Tory circles that began late in the evening on Jan. 24.
Doug Ford is the brother of controversial former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
