2009 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election
On March 6, 2009, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader John Tory announced his intention to step down as leader following his defeat in a by-election. Tory was elected party leader in the party's 2004 leadership election, and led the party to defeat in the 2007 provincial election in which he failed to win personal election to the Ontario Legislature. He attempted again to enter the legislature in a March 5, 2009 by-election but was defeated by the Liberal candidate. The party's executive set June 27, 2009 as  the date for the new leader to be announced over the objections of several MPPs who called for a September vote. Candidates were required to register as such by April 17; in order to be able to cast a ballot it was necessary for one to have been a member of the party by May 14. Of the 25 members caucus, interim leader Bob Runciman remained neutral in the race and MPP Joyce Savoline has yet to endorse a candidate. The party reported that it had over 40,000 members eligible to vote in the leadership contest as of the membership  cut-off of May 15, up from 8,500 at the beginning of the leadership race. Of the 43,000 members eligible to vote some 25,429 members cast a ballot. Registered candidates. Tim Hudak. Tim Hudak, 41, was the MPP for Niagara West—Glanbrook and had sat in the provincial legislature since 1995. He was the party's finance critic and was seen to be on the right of the party. Some consider Hudak to be the "front runner". Including himself, Hudak had the backing of a majority of the 24 member caucus. Christine Elliott. Christine Elliott, 53, was MPP for Whitby —Oshawa, first winning the seat in a 2006 by-election, and wife of Jim Flaherty. Elliott filed her nomination papers on March 31 and officially launched her campaign on April 3, 2009. Frank Klees. Frank Klees, 58, was the Chief Government Whip in the Harris government, and Minister of Tourism and of Transportation in the Eves government. He came in third place in the 2004 leadership election. Klees appeared on Reverend Charles McVety's television program on March 29 and said he would like to run. McVety endorsed Klees during the broadcast. Klees told CTV News that he decided to  throw his hat into the ring "after very careful consideration.” Randy Hillier. Randy Hillier, 50, was a rural activist and founder of the Ontario Landowners Association. He was first elected MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington in the 2007 provincial election. Hillier says that as Premier he would abolish the Ontario Human Rights Commission, allow Ontario to elect its federal Senators and introduce a bill making membership in unions and professional associations voluntary. Voting results. Movement: Hillier eliminated and endorses Hudak; prior to balloting Hillier asked his supporters to make Hudak their second choice. Does not include votes that  were spoiled because no second choice was indicated. Movement: Elliott eliminated Does not include votes that were spoiled because no second or third choice was indicated. Process. The Ontario Progressive Conservatives use a system similar to that used by the federal Conservative Party of Canada in its leadership election. Each provincial riding association had up to 100 Electoral Votes that were allocated among the candidates by proportional representation according to the votes cast by party members within the riding. This was not a "one member one vote" system since each riding generally had equal weight. (Ridings with fewer than 100  voting party members were allocated one Electoral Vote per voting member; ridings with 100 or more voting party members were allocated 100 Electoral Votes.) Voting occurred on June 21 and 25 via a preferential ballot. This system is designed to favour candidates who can win support across the province and win in a majority of ridings. This replicates what is necessary for a party to win a general election - though without the "first past the post" feature of elections under the Westminster system. Voters ranked their choices on a preferential ballot. In this system, if no candidate wins a majority  of Electoral Votes on a ballot, then the last-place candidate is eliminated, and his/her votes are redistributed according to second-choice rankings. There was an entry fee of $50,000 and spending limit of $750,000 but no fundraising limit; twenty per cent of the money raised by candidates was shared with the party. Other rules required each candidate to have a nominator, a seconder, and 100 members who sign the nomination, no more than 10 of whom could live in the same riding. Candidates also had to make a $25,000 deposit, that was refundable. Furthermore, 20 % of all donations over $5,000, with the exception of the first $75,000 raised, had to be given to the party; this money was exempted from the spending limit. Candidates had until Thursday, June 18, at noon to drop out of the race. Any candidate who failed to get 10% of the vote, along with the last-placed candidate, was dropped from balloting should no one candidate get a majority of votes on the first ballot. All ridings had one balloting location with the exception of the 12 largest ridings in the province. 2009 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario