Liberals re-elected with majority

• Published in: Spectator (Hamilton. 1994)
• Main Author: Walters, Joan
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hamilton, Ont Torstar Syndication Services, a Division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited 13.06.2014
• Subjects: Hudak, Tim
• ISSN: 1189-9417

Ontario voters swept KathleenWynne into a majority governmentThursday after a bitterly fought campaignthat at one point appeared topit the parties in a three-way tie.But voters rejected opposition accusationsof Liberal corruption andincompetence, and backed the agendaand approach of 61-year-old experiencedpolitician in her first premier'scampaign.Her victory was a definitive rejectionof the Progressive Conservatives,Tories said. Tim Hudak wonhis Niagara West-Glanbrook seat butimmediately resigned as leader, saying:"I will do so knowing that the PCparty remains strong."Wynne, who also won her DonValley West seat, is the first womanelected premier of Ontario and Canada'sonly openly gay first minister.She thanked voters "for this strongmandate" and promised "not to takeyou for granted."It was the Liberals' fourth-consecutivemandate since Dalton McGuinty'sfirst election in 2003. The partyled in 59 ridings, including the longtimeTory stronghold in Burlington,where Jane McKenna lost her seat toLiberal Eleanor McMahon.Wynne said she plans to recall thelegislature within 20 days and bringin the budget she's already tabled.The Tories dropped 10 seats andwere leading in 27 ridings as finalvotes were tallied.