Tim Hudak has resigned at the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in Ontario. Here is a letter, written by Hudak:
This has been a long campaign, and without question, it has been hard-fought.
We did not achieve the result we wanted. But I could not be more proud of the work of our team, and of the positive message of hope, jobs, and change we offered.
A few minutes ago I spoke with Kathleen Wynne, and congratulated her on her win tonight. Ms. Wynne and the Liberals have won the election, so they will have the opportunity to deliver the change that Ontario so clearly needs.
I also spoke with Andrea Horwath, and congratulated her on a strong and respectful campaign, that put a real focus on government accountability.
Nobody should mistake this result as an endorsement of the status quo. Kathleen Wynne promised very different behaviour from what we have seen in the last eleven years. She will be held accountable if she does not deliver on that change.
Ontario families expect to see a level of transparency and a standard of conduct that is dramatically different from the Liberal record of recent years.
They expect a government we can afford, and an end to wasteful bureaucracy.
And most of all, they expect a government that focuses on creating good jobs.
I am proud of the campaign we ran, and of the clear vision of hope that we put before the people of Ontario.
Our PC team, and every party, has a responsibility to work constructively in the legislature on behalf of the people we all represent. And we have a responsibility to stay true to what the voters have sent us to Queen’s Park to do.
We will put private sector job creation first in every decision, because turning around Ontario’s jobs crisis is the only way to give real security and prosperity to Ontario families, and the only way to ensure we can pay for the services we all depend on.
We will work towards a government that lives within its means, because there is no compassion in borrowing from our children to fund out-of-control spending today.
I am proud of what our party has accomplished, and optimistic about our party’s future. But I will not be leading the PC Party into the next election.
I will meet with the caucus and the party executive in the coming days to begin the process of selecting a new leader. I will lead our party and our caucus only until that new leader is selected. I will do so knowing that our party remains strong.
I want to thank all of our candidates, our caucus, donors and campaign workers in every part of the province.
We ran a campaign of hope because I have boundless hope for Ontario, and for our people. Ontario faces real economic and financial challenges, and they won’t go away with the end of the election campaign. But the people of Ontario have determination and skill and compassion, and I am absolutely convinced that with the right change from government, we can lead again.
Thank you all for your commitment, and for believing in the brightest of futures for everyone in Ontario.
I truly believe that our best days are ahead.
Tim Hudak
Ontario PC Leader
