On March 6, 2009, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader John Tory announced his intention to step down as leader following his defeat in a by-election. Tory was elected party leader in the party's 2004 leadership election, and led the party to defeat in the 2007 provincial election in which he failed to win personal election to the Ontario Legislature. He attempted again to enter the legislature in a March 5, 2009 by-election but was defeated by the Liberal candidate.

The party's executive set June 27, 2009 as the date for the new leader to be announced over the objections of several MPPs who called for a September vote. Candidates were required to register as such by April 17; in order to be able to cast a ballot it was necessary for one to have been a member of the party by May 14. Of the 25 members caucus, interim leader Bob Runciman remained neutral in the race and MPP Joyce Savoline did not endorse a candidate.

The party reported that it had over 40,000 members eligible to vote in the leadership contest as of the membership cut-off of May 15, up from 8,500 at the beginning of the leadership race. Of the 43,000 members eligible to vote some 25,429 members cast a ballot.

Registered candidates

Tim Hudak

Tim Hudak, 41, was the MPP for Niagara West—Glanbrook and had sat in the provincial legislature since 1995. He was the party's finance critic and was seen to be on the right of the party. Some consider Hudak to be the "front runner". Including himself, Hudak had the backing of a majority of the 24 member caucus. Policies: Abolition of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and replace it with a court-based system based on rules of evidence., Paycheque Protection Law to give workers the option of opting out of funding political campaigns, a secret ballot vote when employees decide to join a union as opposed to card check, introduction of a high school exit exam. MPPs who were supporters (12): Bob Bailey; Toby Barrett; Ted Chudleigh; Garfield Dunlop; Lisa MacLeod; Gerry Martiniuk; Norm Miller; Julia Munro; Norm Sterling; Jim Wilson; John Yakabuski; Ernie Hardeman. Federal MPs who were supporters (17): Cabinet ministers John Baird, Tony Clement, Jason Kenney, Rob Nicholson, and Peter Van Loan; MPs Dean Allison, Gord Brown, Patrick Brown, Paul Calandra, Barry Devolin, Rick Dykstra, Royal Galipeau, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Poilievre, Joe Preston, Gary Schellenberger, and David Sweet. Other high-profile supporters: Mike Harris, former Premier of Ontario, Blair McCreadie, former party President, Tom Long, former party President and strategist, former Cabinet Ministers Brenda Elliott and Dave Johnson, former MPPs Doug Galt, Ron Johnson, Bart Maves, Tim Peterson, and Joe Tascona, as well as 2007 candidates Kevin Ashe, Ron Swain, Pam Hundal, Dan McCreary, Doug Jackson, Antonio Garcia, Bill Fehr, Richard Kniaziew, Bob Senechal, Chris Robertson, Tara Crugnale, Bob Charters, Rob Morley, Penny Lucas, Michael Harris, Monte McNaughton, Rob Alder, Allison Graham, Zoran Churchin, David Brown, Nina Tangri, Bill Vrebosch, Cathy Galt, Phil Bannon, Rick Byers, Richard Raymond, Bruce Poulin, John Rutherford, John Del Grande, Bruce Timms, Lillyann Goldstein, Louis Delongchamp, Scott Hobbs, Doug Shearer, Steve Kidd, Ron Bodner, Lisa Lumley, 2008 federal Conservative candidate Hugh Arrison, John Cruickshank 2nd Vice President, Mark Spiro 4th Vice President, Kate Bartz Southwest Regional Vice President, Tony Quirk South Central Regional Vice President, Eric Merkley President Ontario PC Campus Association, former federal MP and cabinet minister Monte Solberg, former MP Jean Pigott. Date campaign announced: April 2, 2009 Date campaign officially launched: April 2, 2009 Date officially registered: April 7, 2009 Result: Winner

Christine Elliott

Christine Elliott, 53, was MPP for Whitby—Oshawa, first winning the seat in a 2006 by-election, and wife of Jim Flaherty. Elliott filed her nomination papers on March 31 and officially launched her campaign on April 3, 2009. Policies: Replace province's progressive income tax with an 8% flat tax along with raising the basic personal amount from $8,881 to approximately $18,000, reform EI and make it more fair to Ontario or build a made-in-Ontario EI solution, crack down on crime - targeting repeat offenders, gang violence, and illegal cigarettes, freeze the minimum wage for 4 years, double tax credit for charitable donations of more than $200, creation of jobs and improve services, access to justice and post-secondary education for Northern Ontario communities. MPPs who were supporters (5): Ted Arnott; Sylvia Jones; Bill Murdoch; John O'Toole; and Elizabeth Witmer Federal MPs who were supporters (14): Cabinet ministers Helena Guergis, Jim Flaherty, and Bev Oda; MPs Peter Braid, Colin Carrie, Michael Chong, Ed Holder, Dean Del Mastro, Greg Rickford, Bruce Stanton, Dave Van Kesteren, Mike Wallace, Jeff Watson, and Terence Young. Senators who were supporters (9): Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Hon. Marjory LeBreton; Consiglio Di Nino; Nicole Eaton; Trevor Eyton; Wilbert Keon; Michael Meighen; Lowell Murray; Nancy Ruth; Hugh Segal. Other high-profile supporters: Former MPPs and cabinet ministers Janet Ecker, David Tsubouchi, and Noble Villeneuve; John Weir, Former Principal Secretary to Mike Harris; Judy Bobka, PCPO Secretary; Brayden Akers, President, OPCYA; Richard Ciano, former federal CPC Vice-president; Toronto City Councillors Rob Ford and John Parker; 2006 Toronto-Centre federal Conservative candidate Lewis Reford; 2007 candidates Pamela Taylor, Bruce Fitzpatrick, Gary Crawford, Robert Bisbicis; Former MPP for Etobicoke North John Hastings; former PC party president Kay Wetherall, former Ontario PC cabinet minister and PC Party President Steve Gilchrist, Former Progressive Conservative Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier Bette Stephenson; Former Mississauga MPP and cabinet minister Rob Sampson; former Correctional Services and Government Services Minister John Roxburgh Smith; Denise Cole, former Premier Mike Harris’ Director of Policy. Date campaign announced: March 31, 2009 Date campaign officially launched: April 3, 2009 Date officially registered: April 1, 2009 Result: Third

Frank Klees Frank Klees, 58, was the Chief Government Whip in the Harris government, and Minister of Tourism and of Transportation in the Eves government. He came in third place in the 2004 leadership election. Klees appeared on Reverend Charles McVety's television program on March 29 and said he would like to run. McVety endorsed Klees during the broadcast. Klees told CTV News that he decided to throw his hat into the ring "after very careful consideration.” Policies: Proposed reduction in provincial sales tax to offset application of new Harmonized Sales Tax to items previously exempt from the PST, supports grassroots policy development, improve transportation infrastructure, make university/college/trade school graduates exempt from paying provincial income taxes for the first four years after leaving school.National Post Story MPPs who were supporters (2): Peter Shurman and Jerry Ouellette. Federal MPs who were supporters: Lois Brown Other high-profile supporters: Rev. Charles McVety; John Capobianco party organizer; Sandra Buckler, Former PMO Communications Director; former MPP Garry Guzzo; John Mykytyshyn, founder of the Conservative Leadership Foundation; the Campaign Life Coalition; former MPP Frank Sheehan. Date campaign announced: March 29, 2009 Date campaign officially launched: April 15, 2009 Date officially registered: April 15, 2009 Result: Second

Randy Hillier

Randy Hillier, 50, was a rural activist and founder of the Ontario Landowners Association. He was first elected MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington in the 2007 provincial election. Hillier says that as Premier he would abolish the Ontario Human Rights Commission, allow Ontario to elect its federal Senators and introduce a bill making membership in unions and professional associations voluntary.Story - Ottawa Citizen Policies: Abolition of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, allow sale of beer and wine in corner stores, election of Ontario Senators, restoration of the spring bear hunt, ending the closed shop in unionized workplaces, reverse the pesticide ban, allowing health care professionals and other gov't paid individuals to refuse to provide services for religious or moral reasons (limiting abortions and same-sex marriages), abolition of the province's property tax assessment agency (MPAC)., increasing the speed limit on Ontario highways, allowing de-amalgamation of municipalities, cracking down on native occupations.Story - Ottawa Citizen MPPs who were supporters (0): none Federal MPs who were supporters (2): Scott Reid, Cheryl Gallant. Other high-profile supporters: Social conservative activist and former Family Coalition Party candidate John Pacheco. Date campaign announced: March 30, 2009 Date campaign officially launched: March 30, 2009 Date officially registered: April 2, 2009 Result: Fourth

Voting results

+ First BallotCandidateWeighted Votes(sum of percentages in each riding)PercentageTim Hudak3,511.87333.9 Frank Klees3,093.77029.9 Christine Elliott2,728.66426.4 Randy Hillier1,013.6949.8Total10,348100

Movement: Hillier eliminated and endorses Hudak; prior to balloting Hillier asked his supporters to make Hudak their second choice.

+ Second BallotCandidateWeighted Votes(sum of percentages in each riding)Percentage+/-Tim Hudak4,128.57039.95+6.0 Frank Klees3,299.80931.94+1.9 Christine Elliott2,903.62128.10+1.6 Total10,332100.0 Does not include votes that were spoiled because no second choice was indicated.

Movement: Elliott eliminated

+ Third BallotCandidateWeighted Votes(sum of percentages in each riding)Percentage+/-Tim Hudak5,60654.25+14.3 Frank Klees4,64444.94+13.0 Total10,332100.0 Does not include votes that were spoiled because no second or third choice was indicated.

Potential candidates who did not enter Ted Arnott, 45, MPP for Wellington—Halton Hills. Told reporters "I'm not interested, nor prepared." John Baird, former provincial cabinet minister and MPP for Nepean, now federal Minister of Transport. Told reporters "I'm very happy with the job I have now."Ontario's top Tory calls it quits after byelection loss Michael Chong, 37, MP for Wellington—Halton Hills Told the press "entirely focused on the economic crisis at hand, and my job as MP for Wellington—Halton Hills." Tony Clement, 48, Minister of Health under Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, now federal Minister of Industry. Told reporters "I'm not contemplating that at this time", and that "I've got a pretty important job to do here in Ottawa." Garfield Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North told Barrie Examiner "being the leader is a 10-year commitment. And I just don't have the contacts across the province." Endorsed Tim Hudak. Dean Del Mastro, 38, is a social conservative and sits in the House of Commons of Canada as MP for Peterborough.Ontario's top Tory calls it quits after byelection loss Julian Fantino, 67, Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police since 2006. Diane Finley, 51, federal Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and MP for Haldimand—Norfolk. Reported in March to be considering a leadership run but did not enter the race. Jim Flaherty, husband of Christine Elliott and the former provincial Minister of Finance, federal Minister of Finance. Supported his wife's candidacy. Masood Khan is a real estate agent, former Mississauga mayoral candidate and editor of the oldest Urdu-language newspaper in Ontario. Told the Mississauga News on March 20 that he would contest the party leadership but did not register as a candidate. Lisa MacLeod, 34, MPP for Nepean—Carleton Announced that she is not running. Supported Tim Hudak.YourOttawaRegion Article: Truck blaze lights up the night sky