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, elected Kathleen Wynne to succeed Dalton McGuinty as the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. 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.

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 entered 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. McGuinty also, citing the political "logjam" in Ontario, prorogued the Legislative Assembly.

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. 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.

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.

Timeline

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. Membership cut-off date for eligibility to vote for delegates. 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

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, 2012 Campaign website: Members signed up: Not disclosed Elected delegates: 104 Endorsements: Endorsements for Eric Hoskins

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, 2012 Campaign website: Members signed up: 5,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 257 Endorsements: Endorsements for Gerard Kennedy

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, 2012 Campaign website: Members signed up: 4,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 504 Endorsements: Endorsements for Sandra Pupatello

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, 2012 Campaign website: Members signed up: 6,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 198 Endorsements: Endorsements for Charles Sousa

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, 2012 Campaign website: Members signed up: 4,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 244 Endorsements: Endorsements for Harinder Takhar

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: Members signed up: 8,000 (claimed) Elected delegates: 463 Endorsements: Endorsements for Kathleen Wynne

Withdrew prior to convention

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, 2012 Date of withdrawal: January 10, 2013 Endorsed: Kathleen Wynne Campaign website: 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 West – retiring from politics Jim Bradley, Minister of Environment and MPP for St. Catharines Laurel Broten, Minister of Education and MPP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore 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) Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and MPP for Scarborough Centre Dwight Duncan, Deputy Premier, Finance Minister and MPP for Windsor—Tecumseh – retiring from politics John Gerretsen, Attorney-General and MPP for Kingston and the Islands Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-term Care and MPP for London North Centre 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. Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, Ontario George Smitherman, former Deputy Premier 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