Canada: Doug Ford elected as new Ontario PC leader
Toronto, Mar 12 (IBNS): Former Toronto city councilor Doug Ford had been elected as the new Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) party leader on the third ballot of preferential voting on Saturday narrowly, media reports said.
He has defeated Christine Elliot, confirmed his party president Jag Badwal, reports said.
Ford reportedly thanked his supporters and his family, including his brother and former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who died in 2016.
"I will get our party back on track. To the people of Ontario, I say, 'Relief is on its way.' And to Kathleen Wynne I say, 'Your days as premier are numbered,'" Ford was reported to state and added,
"To the people of Ontario....I say relief is on its way....And to Kathleen Wynne I say....Your days as Premier are numbered."
In a statement on Saturday, congratulating Ford on his victory, Toronto Mayor John Tory said: "will be reaching out to Mr. Ford to arrange a meeting to discuss Toronto's needs."
Ford reportedly delivered his acceptance speech on Mar 10 as the new leader of the PC party of Ontario.
The runner-up Elliott said that she won't concede and that there were "serious irregularities" in the race.
In her statement, Elliott said that thousands of PC members were assigned to incorrect riding and that she won the popular vote.
"I will stand up for these members and plan to investigate the extent of this discrepancy," Elliot was reported to state.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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