Ontario Liberals pick Steven Del Duca as their new leader
Del Duca did not sugercoat the challenges the Liberals face if they hope to regain power
Former MPP and Wynne-era cabinet minister Steven Del Duca won the Ontario Liberal leadership race in grand style today, taking the crown on the first ballot with 59 per cent support.
Del Duca did not sugarcoat the challenges he and the Liberal Party face if they hope to regain power.
In a speech to delegates in Mississauga prior to his victory, Del Duca said the road ahead for Liberals would not be easy and there was a ton of work to do.
The Ontario Liberal Party is millions of dollars in debt.
The shattering election defeat that Kathleen Wynne suffered in 2018 reduced the Liberals to third place and without official party status in the legislature. Some pundits have dubbed the Liberals the “mini van party” as they have just eight seats at Queen’s Park.
Del Duca said his priority would be to fight for public education, health care and against climate change.
Thank you Ontario Liberals. Today the hard work begins to defeat Doug Ford. #onpoli
— Steven Del Duca (@StevenDelDuca) March 7, 2020
The Ontario PCs seemed almost gleeful with his victory, quickly pouncing on his connection to the former premier tweeting “Ontario can’t afford a Del Duca-Wynne.”
After 15 years of waste, scandal and Liberal mismanagement, Ontario can’t afford a Del Duca-Wynne. pic.twitter.com/dV3WXTW0XI
— Ontario PC Party (@OntarioPCParty) March 7, 2020
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner congratulated Del Duca but also played up his ties to the former Liberal government.
NDP leader Andrea Horwath did not link Del Duca to Wynne and offered him congratulations in a tweet that said “see you on the campaign trail.”
Congratulations to newly-elected Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca.
— Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) March 7, 2020
See you on the campaign trail.
Del Duca held various cabinet portfolios and represented the riding of Vaughan and then Vaughan-Woodbridge. He was defeated in the 2018 election by PC Michael Tibollo
Banner image courtesy Twitter.com