Ontario's premier elect Doug Ford, proud to take back Ontario

#Ontario'sProgressiveConservatives, #DougFord, #KathleenWynne, #AndreaHorwath

Ottawa, June 8 (Canadian-Media): Progressive Conservatives (PCs) have secured majority government which ended nearly 15 years of Liberal Party rule in Canada's Ontario province, media reports said.

"My friends, this victory belongs to you. This victory belongs to the people. And tonight, the people of Ontario have spoken," Premier-elect Doug Ford said in a speech to supporters at an event in Toronto.

"We have taken back Ontario, we have delivered a government that is for the people...A new day has dawned in Ontario — a day of opportunity, a day of prosperity and a day of growth," he said.

Ford had won leadership race nearly three months ago on the third ballot after former leader Patrick Brown's sudden resignation.

In his victory speech, Ford became emotional as he thanked his brother, a former Toronto mayor.

"I know my brother Rob is looking down from heaven. I'm just getting chills talking about him right now. I know Rob is celebrating with us tonight. We owe so much to Rob's legacy," Ford said.

Doug Ford. Image credit: Twitter handle

​Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's first female and LGBT premier was able to secure seven seats.

It was essential for her to win eight seats  to maintain official party status 

This led her to resign from her re-election in Don Valley West.
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Kathleen Wynne. Image credit: Twitter handle

​Several important Liberal cabinet ministers including Charles Sousa, Yasir Naqvi, Steven Del Duca and Glenn Thibeault also lost their seats.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) will form the Official Opposition as Liberals lost the vast majority of their seats at Queen's Park with their lowest-ever share of the popular vote.

NDP managed to take 40 seats, an increase from the 18 they held, at the start of the campaign.  

NDP leader Andrea Horwath said: "I could not be more proud that we offered a positive vision: change for the better. New Democrats rejected the politics of fear and cynicism, and we put hope and vision for a better future at the heart of our campaign." 

"Together, we won more seats than we have held in a generation. And I am deeply humbled that Ontarians have asked us to serve as the new Official Opposition."

Andrea Horwath. Image credit: Twitter handle