Holly McKenzie-Sutter, The Canadian Press Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at 5:49 AM EDT Last Updated on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 11:06 PM EDT
TORONTO – A Toronto lawmaker has long been named interim leader of the New Ontario Democrats as the Official Opposition Party prepares for a leadership contest.
Peter Tabuns was elected to office by the NPD provincial council, the party announced on Tuesday. He said more details would come later about the timeline and the rules of the leadership career.
“The NDP is honored that the people of Ontario have asked us, once again, to form the Official Opposition, and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the party for a while,” Tabuns said in a statement. written.
He said the caucus is “energized and committed” to making Doug Ford’s progressive-conservative government accountable on issues such as workers’ wages, waiting times for health care, climate change and needs. of students and long-term care residents.
Tabuns has represented Toronto-Danforth since 2006 and has been critical of several portfolios, including energy and the environment.
She will replace Andrea Horwath at the head of the province’s Official Opposition party after she announced election night that she would resign.
The NPD moved from third to official opposition status between 2009 and 2018 under Horwath’s leadership, but its number of seats dropped to 31 this election.
The party said Tuesday that its provincial council would hold another meeting to determine the rules and date of the election for the party’s leadership contest.
Several members of the NDP caucus have said they are considering possible offers for leadership, including Laura Mae Lindo, who represents the Kitchener Center, Marit Stiles, who represents Davenport, and Wayne Gates, who represents Niagara Falls.
Party president Janelle Brady thanked Horwath for his leadership and congratulated Tabuns in a statement on Tuesday in which he said the NDP is in a “strong position” financially and with its supporters and volunteers.
“The election of a new leader and the leadership of our party belongs to the tens of thousands of NDP members in Ontario, and I can say with confidence that the party is in good hands,” he said.
Tabuns served as councilor of the city of Toronto in the 1990s and worked as executive director of Greenpeace Canada before being elected to the provincial legislature.
He also ran a housing cooperative and led an environmental group of citizens in his Toronto neighborhood before entering politics.
Ontario’s new Democrats aren’t the only opposition party seeking to fill a leadership gap after this month’s election.
Liberal leader Steven Del Duca also resigned on election night after failing to win his own seat and his party did not regain official party status.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 28, 2022.
My thanks to the members of the #ONDP who have appointed me interim leader. I appreciate your trust and your trust. You know I will fight for the people of this province, I know you too.
– Peter Tabuns (@Peter_Tabuns) June 29, 2022