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.

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.”

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.”

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

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