2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election

Canadian provincial party election January 2023 January 2013 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election Ontario presidential no 1996 2020 January 26, 2013 Final ballot First ballot x150px Premier Kathleen Wynne 2014 (cropped).jpg ON Liberal nohash Kathleen Wynne 1,150(57.04%) 597(28.65%) Sandra Pupatello in Oshawa (cropped).jpg ON Liberal nohash Sandra Pupatello 866(42.96%) 599(28.74%) Gerard Kennedy 2010.jpg ON Liberal nohash Gerard Kennedy Withdrew 281(13.48%) x150px ON Liberal nohash Harinder Takhar Eliminated 235(11.28%) x150px ON Liberal nohash Charles Sousa Withdrew 222(10.65%) x150px ON Liberal nohash Eric Hoskins Eliminated 150(7.20%) Leader Dalton McGuinty Kathleen Wynne Ontario Liberal Party ON Liberal 2013 250px January 26, 2013 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto(Mattamy Athletic Centre,Ryerson University) Kathleen Wynne Dalton McGuinty 7 3 $50,000 $500,000 The 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, culminated to a leadership convention held from January 24 to 26, 2013, at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto,Ferguson Rob Ontario Liberal leadership convention coming to Maple Leaf Gardens https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1278874--ontario-liberals-ontario-liberal-leadership-convention-coming-to-maple-leaf-gardens October 29, 2012 Toronto Star October 29, 2012 elected Kathleen Wynne to succeed Dalton McGuinty as the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.Macleans.ca Ontario’s incoming premier vows to work with opposition, avoid elections http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/28/ontarios-incoming-premier-vows-to-work-with-opposition-avoid-elections-2/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130928062529/http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/01/28/ontarios-incoming-premier-vows-to-work-with-opposition-avoid-elections-2/ 2013-09-28 2026-09-06 Macleans.ca en-US By nature of the Liberal Party being in government in the province of Ontario at the time, Wynne became the premier-elect upon her election, and was formally swore in as Premier of Ontario two weeks later. The 2013 leadership election marked Ontario Liberals first successful leadership transition while in power, where an incumbent Liberal leader and premier relinquished leadership to a democratically chosen successor who went on to retain power for the party in a subsequent election. With the election of Wynne, the 2013 leadership contest produced Ontario's first women premier, and Canada's first openly gay first minister. Unbeknownst at the time, the Toronto convention that concluded the 2013 leadership election process would be last delegated convention conducted by a political party while in government anywhere in Canada.Paas-Lang Christian 2023-03-12 The era of delegated leadership conventions is coming to an end. Will it be missed? https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/delegated-leadership-conventions-1.6776030 CBC News Context Incumbent party leader Dalton McGuinty was elected leader 17 years earlier, when the 1996 leadership election process culminated to a convention at the venue. McGuinty, like Wynne, did not enter that convention as the frontrunner. After defeating then frontrunner Gerard Kennedy, McGuinty led the party to an electoral defeat in 1999 before securing his first majority electoral victory in 2003 and forming the McGuinty ministry. He went on to lead the party to two more electoral victories in 2007 and 2011, the first Liberal leader to secure more than two electoral mandate since Sir Oliver Mowat. After leading his ministry for nine years, 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.Dalton McGuinty resigns and prorogues legislature https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-s-mcguinty-surprises-with-resignation-prorogation-1.1156014 CBC News October 15, 2012 October 15, 2012 McGuinty also, citing the political "logjam" in Ontario, prorogued the Legislative Assembly.Karen Howlett Adrian Morrow Paul Waldie Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty resigns https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontario-premier-dalton-mcguinty-resigns/article4614086/ October 15, 2021 The Globe and Mail October 15, 2012 Following her victory at the 2013 leadership convention, Wynne formed her ministry on February 11, 2013. After leading a minority government for 14 months, she called an election on May 2, 2014 ahead of an expected defeat of her government's budget, and led her party to a renewed majority government in June 2014. 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.Weekend delegate vote will define the leadership race https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1313987--ontario-liberals--weekend-delegate-vote-will-define-the-leadership-race Toronto Star January 11, 2013Benzie Robert Dalton McGuinty: Premier wants new leader picked 'sooner rather than later' https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/mcguinty/article/1273054--dalton-mcguinty-premier-wants-new-leader-picked-sooner-rather-than-later October 17, 2012 Toronto Star October 17, 2012 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.Benzie Robert Ontario Liberal leadership: 2,500 delegates will determine the next premier of Ontario https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1288669--ontario-liberal-leadership-2-500-delegates-will-determine-the-next-premier-of-ontario November 17, 2012 Toronto Star November 15, 2012 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.Benzie Robert Ontario Liberal leadership: Race to replace McGuinty has tripled Grit ranks https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1292687--ontario-liberal-leadership-race-to-replace-mcguinty-has-tripled-grit-ranks December 20, 2012 Toronto Star November 24, 2012 Timeline thumb|300px|right|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.Ontario Liberals to hold leadership convention in January https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-liberals-to-hold-leadership-convention-in-january-1.1186593 October 21, 2012 CBC News October 21, 2012 Membership cut-off date for eligibility to vote for delegates.Benzie Robert Liberals to choose new premier Jan. 25 https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1274957--dalton-mcguinty-mpp-abandons-liberal-leadership-bid October 21, 2012 Toronto Star October 21, 2012 December 1, 2012, 1 pm ET – Ingersoll Leadership DebateOntario Liberal News. Ontarioliberal.ca. Retrieved on January 26, 2013. 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 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership endorsements Eric Hoskins 150px|thumb|Eric Hoskins Eric Hoskins was 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, 2012Hoskins to enter Ontario Liberal leadership race today https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hoskins-officially-enters-ontario-liberal-leadership-race-1.1282840 November 13, 2012 CBC News November 13, 2012 Campaign website: http://ericforleader.ca/ Members signed up: Not disclosed Elected delegates: 104Sandra Pupatello leads Kathleen Wynne after weekend delegate voting https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1314654--ontario-liberals-pupatello-leads-wynne-after-weekend-delegate-voting January 16, 2013 Toronto Star January 14, 2012 Endorsements: Endorsements for Eric Hoskins Gerard Kennedy 150px|thumb|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, 2012Benzie Robert Gerard Kennedy promises to be 'different' if he takes Grit helm https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1286232--ontario-liberal-leadership-race-gerard-kennedy-promises-to-be-different-if-he-takes-grit-helm November 12, 2012 Toronto Star November 12, 2012 Campaign website: http://gerardkennedy.ca Members signed up: 5,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 257 Endorsements: Endorsements for Gerard Kennedy Sandra Pupatello 150px|thumb|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, 2012Babbage Maria Outspoken former cabinet minister Pupatello launches Ontario Liberal leadership bid https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/outspoken-former-cabinet-minister-pupatello-launches-ontario-liberal-leadership-bid/article5086427/ November 8, 2012 Globe and Mail November 8, 2012 Campaign website: sandraforleader.ca Members signed up: 4,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 504 Endorsements: Endorsements for Sandra Pupatello Charles Sousa 150px|thumb|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, 2012Former immigration minister Charles Sousa joins Liberal leader race https://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/2012/11/10/former-immigration-minister-charles-sousa-joins-liberal-leader-race.html April 3, 2021 Hamilton Spectator November 10, 2012 Campaign website: votesousa.ca Members signed up: 6,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 198 Endorsements: Endorsements for Charles Sousa Harinder Takhar 150px|thumb|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, 2012Harinder Takhar becomes 7th contender in race for McGuinty's job https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1291830--ontario-liberals-harinder-takhar-becomes-7th-contender-in-race-for-mcguinty-s-job November 22, 2012 Toronto Star November 22, 2012 Campaign website: http://votetakhar.com/ Members signed up: 4,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 244 Endorsements: Endorsements for Harinder Takhar Kathleen Wynne 150px|thumb|Kathleen Wynne Kathleen Wynne is the MPP for Don Valley West (since 2003), Minister of Education (2006–10); Minister of Transportation (2010–11); Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Aboriginal Affairs (2011–2012); Toronto District School Board Trustee Ward 8 (2000–03) Date campaign launched: November 5, 2012 Campaign website: http://kathleenwynne.ca Members signed up: 8,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 463 Endorsements: Endorsements for Kathleen Wynne Withdrew prior to convention Glen Murray 150px|thumb|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, 2012Glen Murray seeks leadership of Ontario Liberal Party https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/glen-murray-1st-to-run-for-ontario-liberal-leadership-1.1184521 November 4, 2012 CBC News November 4, 2012 Date of withdrawal: January 10, 2013January 10, 2013 Glen Murray quits Ont. Liberal leadership race; endorses Kathleen Wynne https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/glen-murray-quits-ont-liberal-leadership-race-endorses-kathleen-wynne/ January 10, 2013 Canadian Press2013-01-10 Glen Murray drops out of Ontario Liberal leadership race https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/glen-murray-drops-out-of-ontario-liberal-leadership-race-1.1403352 CBC News Endorsed: Kathleen WynneGlen Murray quits Ont. Liberal leadership race; endorses Kathleen Wynne https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/glen-murray-quits-ont-liberal-leadership-race-endorses-kathleen-wynne/ January 10, 2013 Canadian Press January 10, 2013 Campaign website: www.renewliberal.ca Members recruited: 3,000 (claimed) Endorsements: Endorsements for Glen Murray Declined to run Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, MPP for Sudbury. Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy and MPP for London WestCanadian Press Chris Bentley to quit politics https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/chris-bentley-to-quit-politics-1.1195246 October 26, 2012 CBC News October 26, 2012 – retiring from politics Jim Bradley, Minister of Environment and MPP for St. CatharinesCanadian Press MPPs reluctant to declare leadership ambitions to replace McGuinty http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/231397 https://archive.today/20130119173531/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/231397 dead January 19, 2013 October 16, 2012 City News October 16, 2012 Laurel Broten, Minister of Education and MPP for Etobicoke—LakeshoreWould-be Ontario Liberal leadership candidates dropping out fast https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1280927--brad-duguid-latest-ontario-liberal-to-decline-shot-at-leadership-race November 1, 2012 Toronto Star November 1, 2012 Michael Bryant, former Attorney-GeneralReport: Glen Murray to promise tax cuts, tuition breaks in Liberal leadership bid Newstalk 1010, November 4, 2012 David Caplan, former Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (2007–2009)Franzios Katie Caplan Eyeing Liberal Leadership: Sources http://www.newstalk1010.com/News/localnews/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10456934 November 4, 2012 Newstalk 1010 October 26, 2012 Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Ottawa West—NepeanChiarelli endorses Pupatello for Liberal leadership race, blasts Hudak http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/417988/chiarelli-endorses-pupatello-for-liberal-leadership-race-blasts-hudak/ October 26, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130308100127/http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/417988/chiarelli-endorses-pupatello-for-liberal-leadership-race-blasts-hudak/ March 8, 2013 dead Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and MPP for Scarborough CentreJenkins Jonathan Brad Duguid won't run for Ontario Liberal party leadership http://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/31/brad-duguid-wont-run-for-ontario-liberal-party-leadership October 31, 2012 Toronto Sun October 31, 2012 Dwight Duncan, Deputy Premier, Finance Minister and MPP for Windsor—TecumsehFinance Minister Dwight Duncan won't seek Ontario Liberal leadership job – retiring from politics https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1275878--would-be-liberal-leadership-hopeful-dwight-duncan-announces-pension-freeze-to-save-1-5b October 24, 2012 Toronto Star October 24, 2012 – retiring from politics John Gerretsen, Attorney-General and MPP for Kingston and the IslandsNovember 5, 2012 Gerretsen again quashes rumours of run http://www.thewhig.com/2012/11/04/gerretsen-again-quashes-rumours-of-run dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140326014210/http://www.thewhig.com/2012/11/04/gerretsen-again-quashes-rumours-of-run March 26, 2014 November 5, 2012 Kingston Whig-Standard mdy-all Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-term Care and MPP for London North CentreFerguson Rob Deb Matthews bows out of race to replace Dalton McGuinty https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1284153--deb-matthews-bows-out-of-race-to-replace-dalton-mcguinty November 7, 2012 Toronto Star November 7, 2012 Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre and President of the Ontario Liberal Party.Naqvi won't run for Liberal leader Ottawa Citizen, October 21, 2012 David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie.Purvis Michael Orazietti decides against run for Liberal leadershi http://www.saultstar.com/2012/10/26/orazietti-decides-against-run-for-liberal-leadership October 26, 2012 Sault Star October 26, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140326013318/http://www.saultstar.com/2012/10/26/orazietti-decides-against-run-for-liberal-leadership March 26, 2014 dead Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, OntarioScarpitti not ruling out run at Liberal leadership, York chair https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/1441435-scarpitti-not-ruling-out-run-at-liberal-leadership-york-chair/ April 3, 2021 yorkregion.com November 2, 2012 George Smitherman, former Deputy PremierChubb Christine Smitherman bows out of Liberal leadership race http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/233765--smitherman-bows-out-of-liberal-leadership-race October 31, 2012 CityNews October 31, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121101043206/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/233765--smitherman-bows-out-of-liberal-leadership-race November 1, 2012 dead John Wilkinson, former Minister of the Environment Opinion polling All Ontarians Poll source Date 1st 2nd 3rdOther Forum ResearchSample size: 644 January 23–24, 2013 Gerard Kennedy33% Sandra Pupatello26% Kathleen Wynne25% Eric Hoskins 11%, Charles Sousa 3%, Harinder Takhar 1%Forum ResearchSample size: 425 December 17, 2012 Gerard Kennedy36% Kathleen Wynne23% Sandra Pupatello20% Glen Murray 9%, Eric Hoskins 7%, Charles Sousa 3%, Harinder Takhar 1%Forum ResearchSample size: 1,127 November 27–28, 2012 Gerard Kennedy16% Sandra Pupatello10% Kathleen Wynne8% Eric Hoskins 3%, Glen Murray 2%, Charles Sousa 2%, Harinder Takhar 2%, None of these 30%, Don't know 27%Innovative Research GroupSample size: 600 October 17–22, 2012 Dwight Duncan5% Kathleen Wynne5% Deb Matthews3% 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 3rdOther Forum ResearchSample size: 215 January 23–24, 2013 Gerard Kennedy33% Sandra Pupatello28% Kathleen Wynne27% Eric Hoskins 6%, Charles Sousa 4%, Harinder Takhar 3%Forum ResearchSample size: 149 December 17, 2012 Gerard Kennedy29% Sandra Pupatello26% Kathleen Wynne22% Glen Murray 11%, Eric Hoskins 9%, Charles Sousa 3%, Harinder Takhar 0%Forum ResearchSample size: 313 November 27–28, 2012 Gerard Kennedy25% Sandra Pupatello16% Kathleen Wynne13% 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.Ontario Liberals: Voting begins in pursuit of McGuinty’s successor. thestar.com. Retrieved on January 26, 2013. Convention results pink darkgray = Eliminated from next round lightblue darkgray = Withdrew nomination lightgreen darkgray = Winner + Delegate support by ballot Candidate Pledged delegatesLeadership Election Meeting Results 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140326011853/http://pantone201.ca/olp/2013LeadershipElectionMeetingsResults.pdf March 26, 2014 . pantone201.caBallot 1Ballot 2Ballot 3 NameVotes%Votes%Votes%+/- (pp) Votes%+/- (pp) Pupatello3.jpg 70 60 75 5 10 Sandra Pupatello 509 27.4% 599 28.74% 817 39.4% +10.7 866 43.0% +5.8% Kathleen Wynne.JPG 60 60 75 Kathleen Wynne 468 25.2% 597 28.65% 750 36.2% +7.6 1,150 57.0% +20.8 Gerard kennedy.jpg 60 60 75 5 Gerard Kennedy 260 14.0% 281 13.5% 285 13.7% +0.2 Endorsed Wynne Takhar1.jpg 80 60 75 10 10 Harinder Takhar 244 13.1% 235 11.3% 18 0.9% -10.4 Endorsed Pupatellotakhar A Sousa1.jpg 70 60 75 5 Charles Sousa 204 11.0% 222 10.7% 203 9.8% -0.9 Endorsed Wynne Eric Hoskins.JPG 60 60 75 Eric Hoskins 105 5.7% 150 7.2% Endorsed WynneIndependent 67 3.6% GlenMurray1.jpg 80 60 75 8 5 Glen Murray Endorsed Wynne Votes cast and net change by ballotTotal 1,857 2,084 2,073 -11 2,016 -57 takhar ATakhar endorsed Pupatello before the second ballot voting took place, but after the deadline to drop off the ballot. Aftermath Following her victory at the 2013 leadership convention, the Wynne ministry was sworn into office on February 11, 2013 with Sousa as finance minister, Hoskins as economic development minister and Murray taking on both the transportation and infrastructure portfolios. Wynne appealed to both Pupatello and Kennedy for them to return to public life but both declined.Paikin Steve 2013-02-12 The New Wynne Ministry https://www.tvo.org/article/the-new-wynne-ministry TVO Today Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVO)2013-01-29 Wynne needs 'free hand' to shape cabinet, Duncan says https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/headlines/wynne-needs-free-hand-to-shape-cabinet-duncan-says-1.1357736 CBC News Wynne underlined the value she places in loyalty, naming Matthews as deputy and placing all ten of her caucus supporters in her cabinet while also demonstrated her commitment to not be vindictive by retaining Takhar in cabinet and promoting a number of key Pupatello backers into cabinet. The voluntary retirement of a number of incumbent ministers created room for the inclusions of a large group new cabinet members. Only one incumbent cabinet member exited involuntarily. Takhar's tenure in the Wynne ministry was short, having resigned after a health episode in May 2013, and was never brought back into cabinet by Wynne. Sousa in the other hand remained her trusty finance minister for the entire duration of the Wynne ministry. Hoskins got the health portfolio he long coveted, after a year of underwhelming performance at economic development, and held the post until resigning abruptly a few months before the 2018 election. Murray became environment minister in 2014 and held the role till late 2017 when he resigned to head the Pembina Institute in Alberta. Within months of the leadership election, five former members of the McGuinty ministry, including the former Premier himself, bid their farewell from Queen's Park, opening up five by-elections for the new government to defend simultaneously. The five by-election on August 1 2013 was the most by-elections held simultaneously since 1984, after five opposition members resigned to contest the 1984 federal election. The last instance of an incumbent Ontario government defending five by-elections in government held seat was in 1930, when ministerial byelections were still legally required. The Liberals lost three of the five seats. The loss of Dwight Duncan's seat in Windsor and Chris Bentley seat in London were particularly disastrous. These by-elections further weakened the minority government. After leading a minority government for 14 months, Wynne called an election on May 2, 2014 ahead of an expected defeat of her government's budget, and led her party to a renewed majority government in June 2014. Two of Wynne's key cabinet backer, Linda Jeffrey and John Gerretsen, retired prior to the election. Historical significance The 2013 Ontario Liberal leadership election was of unique historical significance due to a number of factors. Orderly transition of leadership It was only the second instance of the Ontario Liberal Party electing a new leader while in government, and the first instance for leadership election to be held in normal course. Unlike their federal cousins or their Conservative rivals, the Ontario Liberals had virtually no experience in successful leadership transition while in power. The party's last leadership contest held while in government, in 1943, was the closing chapter of a crisis triggered by the incumbent Premier Mitch Hepburn's unsuccessful attempt at unilaterally handpicking his successor. The disastrous leadership transition kicked started four-decade in the wilderness for the party. In deciding to relinquish his leadership on his own terms, McGuinty executed the first successful transition of leadership while the party was in power in well over a century, and the first of such transition to be conducted democratically in the party history. The last time a sitting Liberal Premier handed over party leadership to a successor who went on to secure their own electoral mandate was when Arthur Sturgis Hardy retirement and his education minister Sir George Ross assuming the premiership in 1899. Madam Premier Since the Ontario Liberal Party was in power when it conducted this leadership contest, with the two leading candidates both being women, the emergence of a madam premier was largely a foregone conclusion by the end of the delegate election weekend. In doing so, the Ontario Liberal Party realized an aspiration that eluded it 18 years earlier, when it failed to deliver a widely expected electoral victory to put party leader Lyn MacLeod in the premier's chair. MacLeod endorsed Wynne and was present at the 2013 leadership convention. With the election of Kathleen Wynne, Ontario became the fifth Canadian province to have been led by a women first minister, 22 years after British Columbia produced its first women premier. Upon her election, she joined five fellow madam premiers at the Council of the Federation. That made it the first time for Canada to have six women first ministers in office concurrently. It was also the first time the government of the four most populous provinces, together account for over 85% of Canada's population, to all be led by women. The concurrent women leadership of the four provinces would last for just over a year. Out and proud While a woman emerging victorious was expected, the election of Kathleen Wynne, an out lesbian, was far from presumed. She entered the convention as the underdog to Pupatello Her convention speech, considered by veteran TVO journalist Steve Paiken as the most impactful convention speech by a leadership candidate,https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yVZ38hvOwig The Kathleen Wynne's speech that sealed the deal 2025-06-24 TVO Today 2025-10-12 YouTube addressed her sexuality head-on:"When I ran in 2003, I was told that the people of North Toronto and Thorncliffe Park were not ready to elect a gay woman. Well, apparently they were... I don't believe the people of Ontario judge their leaders on the basis of race, colour or sexual orientation. I don't believe they hold that prejudice in their hearts. They judge us on our merits, on our abilities, on our expertise, on our ideas – because that is how everyone deserves to be judged, that is how we want our children, our grandchildren, our nieces and nephews to be judged."The Huffington Post 2013-01-26 Kathleen Wynne's Speech At Ontario Liberal Convention https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/kathleen-wynne-speech-convention-ontario-liberals_n_2559488 2025-10-12 HuffPost enThe election of Kathleen Wynne gave Canada its first openly gay first minister. When she formally took office three weeks later, Ontario with its population of over 13 million displaced Belgium as the most populous jurisdiction anywhere in the world to have an openly LGBTQ head of government Belgium, with a population of 11 million, previously held the distinction since 2011, when Elio Di Rupo was appointed its Prime Minister. and held the distinction for 11 years until being displaced by France in 2024.When Gabriel Attal was appointed Prime Minister of France in January 2024. With her 2014 electoral victory, Ontario displaced Sicily as the most populous jurisdiction having ever elected a LGBTQ head of government.With a population of 5 million, Sicily elected Rosario Crocetta as President of its regional government in October 2012 Ontario held the latter distinction for 12 years, until February 2026 when Netherlands's Jetton cabinet entered office.With a population of 18 million, Netherlands held general elections in October 2025 with the Democrats 66 led by Rob Jetten winning one seats more than its far right rival. Jetten formed a government four month later, a relatively short cabinet formation in Dutch standard. Last hurrah for delegated convention The 2013 Ontario Liberal leadership convention was the last time the winner of a delegated leadership convention automatically became the first minister election anywhere in Canada. While other parties, including the Liberal Party of Canada, have conducted leadership elections while in power since, and some parties in the smaller provinces have held "conventions" where their members gathered to cast their ballot, no other party have conducted a delegated leadership convention while in power since. Wynne was however not the last Premier to have secured their party leadership via a delegated convention. Two months after this convention, the Quebec Liberal Party elected Philippe Couillard as leader through a delegated convention, its first competitive leadership contest since 1978. The Quebec party was in opposition at the time, and Couillard led the party back to power the following year. The 2013 was also not the last delegated leadership convention for the Ontario Liberal Party. having elected its next leader Steven Del Duca at a delegated leadership convention held in March 2020. When the Ontario Liberals eliminated delegated convention as the final steps of its leadership election process, it was the last party with parliamentary representation to have taken the step. Notes References 30em Category:January 2013 in Canada Liberal Party leadership election 2013 Liberal Party leadership election, 2013 Category:2013 political party leadership elections in Canada