Andrea Horwath elected new Ontario NDP leader
Hamilton - Andrea Horwath,
MPP for Hamilton Centre, is the new leader of the Ontario NDP.
"This
is a tremendous honour. I am excited about this historic opportunity to rejuvenate
our party and lead us to greater success.
I look forward to growing our party and to fighting for all
Ontarians, especially those who are struggling to cope with a worsening
economic crisis," Horwath said to nearly 1,000 New Democrats at the
party's Leadership Convention and hundreds more watching online at home.
At a packed
Hamilton Convention Centre, Horwath was declared the winner on the third
ballot of a race that featured the most broad-based leadership selection
process - with mail, internet and telephone voting - in Ontario political
history. She defeated fellow MPPs Gilles
Bisson (Timmins-James Bay), Michael Prue (Beaches-East York) and Peter
Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth).
"To my
three colleagues, I want to thank you and your supporters for your
outstanding dedication and hard work during an exciting race that has
re-energized our party and given Ontarians reason to hope again. I look
forward to working with our talented caucus to offer a positive,
progressive vision for our province," Horwath said.
Horwath, 46,
becomes the first woman leader of the Ontario NDP and just the second
woman to lead a major Ontario political party. She will mark her first
full day as leader on International Women's Day.
|