PCs Expected To Name Interim Leader, Following John Tory’s Departure
Posted March 10, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s expected the Ontario Progressive Conservatives will pick a new interim leader on Tuesday following John Tory’s crushing defeat in a byelection last week.
It was expected Tory would win the eastern Ontario riding he competed in, but the governing Liberals took the seat, essentially ending the PC leader’s political career. He resigned shortly thereafter.
Now the party must pick a temporary boss to head up the Official Opposition until a new permanent leader is selected in June at a leadership convention. It’s unclear at this point where the convention will be held.
Bob Runciman, a veteran with the party, had been acting Opposition leader since Tory lost his seat in the 2007 election, but it wasn’t certain whether he’d move into the interim leader role until June.
The party executive reportedly wants its new leader chosen by July 1.
Selection will take place in all 107 ridings in addition to the convention.
