The 2015 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election was held on May 9, 2015, as a result of the resignation of OntarioProgressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak following the provincial election on June 12, 2014, his second loss in a row as party leader. Patrick Brown won the leadership with 61.8% of votes allocated, defeating Christine Elliott who had 38.2%.
The party's 76,587 members[1] were eligible to cast votes by preferential ballot. The vote will be weighted so that each of the province's 107 ridings that has more than 100 votes cast are allocated 100 electoral votes;[2] ridings in which fewer than 100 party members vote will not be weighted, but will instead have the votes counted as individual votes.[3] If at least 100 members votes in each riding the number of electoral college votes needed to win will be 5,351.[1] The registration fee was $75,000 plus a refundable deposit of $25,000[3] and the spending limit was $1.25 million.[4] 20% of money raised by candidates after the first $100,000 will be transferred to the PC Ontario Fund.[4] The lowest ranked candidate will be dropped from the next round as ballots are counted, and the first candidate to get 50 per cent of the votes will be declared the new leader.[4]
June 12, 2014: General election results in the incumbent Liberals, led by Kathleen Wynne, being re-elected with a majority government and the Progressive Conservatives losing 9 seats. Party leader Tim Hudak announces his intention to resign as leader following the selection of his successor.
June 16, 2014: Progressive Conservative caucus meets with a majority of MPPs asking Hudak to resign immediately.[5][6]
June 18, 2014: Hudak announces to the Progressive Conservative caucus that he will resign effective July 2, 2014.
June 25, 2014: Christine Elliott announces her bid for the leadership of the Ontario PC Party.
July 2, 2014: Ontario legislature convenes; Hudak's resignation will take effect; Progressive Conservative caucus chooses Jim Wilson as interim leader.[5][6]
July 5, 2014: The Progressive Conservative executive met to discuss the leadership and appointed a committee to consult the party membership and then draft recommendations for leadership campaign rules and propose a date for the election.[5][6][7][8]
Early August 2014: Party committee reports back to the executive with its proposals.[8]
August 9, 2014: Party executive announces that the leadership election will occur no earlier than April 1, 2015 and no later than May 31, 2015. The planning committee is given an additional six weeks to consult with party members on the rules of the election.[9]
September 21, 2014: Planning committee reports back to executive.[9]
September 24, 2014: Vic Fedeli declares his candidacy.
September 28, 2014: Patrick Brown declares his candidacy.
October 6, 2014: Lisa MacLeod declares her candidacy.
November 8, 2014: Official campaign period begins.[3]
November 24, 2014: All-candidates debate in Sudbury.[10]
January 26, 2015: All-candidates debate in London.[10]
January 30, 2015 at 12 pm: Deadline for candidates to file nomination papers and pay first installment of $75,000 registration fee and $25,000 deposit.[3][4]
February 4, 2015: Fedeli withdraws from contest.
February 6, 2015: MacLeod withdraws; final non-refundable $50,000 installment of candidate entry fee is due.[11]
February 11, 2015: All-candidates debate in Ottawa.[10]
February 28, 2015: Date by which one must become a member of the party and be eligible to vote in the leadership election.[2][4]
April 9, 2015: McNaughton withdraws; endorses Brown.[12]
The following MPPs stood in the July 2, 2014, election by caucus to be interim leader of the party until the leadership election for a permanent leader is held:
Jim Wilson (Simcoe—Grey), MPP since 1990, Opposition House Leader (2011–2014), previously Minister of Health (1995–1997), Minister of Energy, Science & Technology (1997–2002), Minister of Northern Development and Mines (2002–2003), Minister of Environment (2003).[13]
John Yakabuski (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke), MPP since 2003, has served as Chief Opposition Whip (2011–2014), Opposition House Leader (2010–2011) and variously Opposition Critic for Community Safety and Energy.[13]
Jim Wilson was elected by caucus to be interim leader and also assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition. Vote totals were not released.[14]
Municipal politicians: (6) Sandie Bellow (St. Catherines City Councillor for Ward 5), Scott McPherson (Oro-Medonte City Councillor for Ward 2), Denzil Minnan-Wong (Toronto City Councillor for Ward 34; Deputy Mayor of Toronto),[19]Sergio Morales (Barrie City Councillor for Ward 9), Ross Romano (Sault Ste. Marie City Councillor for Ward 6), Mat Siscoe (St. Catherines City Councillor for Ward 4)
Former municipal politicians: (2) Joe DiPaola (Richmond Hill City Councillor for Ward 6, 1998–2006),[22]Alex Nuttall (Barrie City Councillor for Ward 10, 2006–2014)
MPP since 2006 (Whitby—Ajax (2006–2007), Whitby—Oshawa (2007–2015). Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Critic for Health and Long-Term Care since 2009. Ran in the 2009 leadership election, placing third. Widow of former federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty. Prior to entering politics, Elliott was a lawyer who practiced corporate, estate and real estate law.
Former municipal politicians: (3) Nancy Branscombe (London City Councillor for Ward 6, 2006–2014),[30]Doug Ford (Toronto City Councillor for Ward 2, 2010–2014),[31]Hazel McCallion, (Mayor of Mississauga, 1978–2014)
MPP for Nipissing (2011–present), Opposition Finance Critic (2013–present), Energy Critic (2011–2013), Finance Critic (2013–Present), Fedeli served as mayor of North Bay, Ontario (2003–2010) for two terms, during which he donated his entire salary to charity. Before entering politics, he ran Fedeli Advertising, which in 1989 was ranked by Profit - the magazine for Small Business as the firm 34th on its list of 50 Best Places to Work in Canada. Fedeli was also recognized as one of Canada's Most Successful Entrepreneurs in an episode of MoneyMakers, hosted by Everett Banning. Additionally, Fedeli served as the dollar-per-year chairman of a non-profit organization in North Bay. Fedeli's campaign is called "OntarioFirst".[34]
MPP for Nepean—Carleton (2006–present), Opposition Treasury Board Critic (2014–present), Energy and Francophone Affairs Critic (2013–2014), Education Critic (2011–2013), Revenue and Government Accountability Critic (2009–2011).
MPP for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex (2011–present), Opposition Critic for Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade (2014–present), Labour Critic (2013–2014), Economic Development and Innovation Critic (2011–2013). Prior to entering provincial politics, McNaughton sat on the city council of Newbury and was general manager and co-owner of McNaughton Family Shopping Centre in Newbury. He also served as chair of the Newbury Economic Development Committee and was president of the Strathroy and District Chamber of Commerce in 2009–10.