Dwight Duncan won’t seek Liberal leadership
Posted October 24, 2012 6:55 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ontario finance minister Dwight Duncan has announced that he won’t seek the Liberal leadership and that he won’t run for re-election in the next general election.
“I’m very content with my decision. It’s [working at Queen’s Park] been a wonderful privilege for me. It’s been a great run,” he said at a news conference Wednesday.
Duncan said he’d retain his seat until the next election, and that he may want to serve in the House of Commons one day.
“I wouldn’t rule that out at this point,” he said.
He also said he’ll be spending a lot of time helping to rebuild the federal Liberal party and will stay involved with the Ontario Liberal party until at least the next election.
On Tuesday, Duncan, 53, said he was grappling with whether he could cope with the time obligation involved in leading the Ontario Liberals.
Dalton McGuinty made a surprise announcement last Monday that he was stepping down after 16 years as Liberal leader and nine as premier.
Duncan has long maintained that he was not interested in another leadership run but added that his fellow Liberals had urged him to enter a bid following McGuinty’s resignation.
“A lot of the Liberals are very supportive, urging me to do it.”
The Ontario Liberals will select the next leader at a convention on Jan. 25-27, 2012.
Former MPP Sandra Pupatello, whom Duncan described as like a sister, is considering entering the leadership race.
With files from Charlene Close, 680News
