If you haven't already heard the news, the new Ontario Premier has been elected, and no it's not incumbent Kathleen Wynne. As a matter of fact the Ontario Liberals have not only lost the election but as many as 50 seats in the Ontario legislature.
With such a sweeping loss and an emotionally draining campagin season Kathleen Wynne has just made a very big announcement.
@kathleen_wynneThe Liberal leader has just declared that she will be stepping down as the party leader and has started the process of looking for an interim candidate to replace her.
While she was very open about the fact that she was unliked, and conceited defeat well before election day, it still comes as a shock to her supporters that she is planning on making room for someone new to take over and as she said, “passing the torch".
You'll want to have a good look at this. #sorrynotsorry
A post shared by Kathleen Wynne (@kathleen_wynne) on
Kathleen Wynne speaks to her supporters: "This is not a concession speech. I conceded I would not be premier days ago. This is my chance to say thank you for allowing me to be your premier" #CityVote #ONpoli
The reaction to the news has been met with some suprise, however many have taken to soical media to thank her for her years of work on behalf of the province.
Well, there goes Ontario’s first female premiere and first openly gay premiere. Kathleen Wynne, you did deserve better.
@Kathleen_Wynne thanks for a good 4 yrs. You have lots to be proud of. Ontario will realize how much good you did in 4 yrs @CBCNews
On behalf of the City of Markham, I would like to thank @Kathleen_Wynne for her commitment and years of public service. As Ontario's 25th Premier, she has made significant infrastructure investments, we applaud her plan to build Ontario up. #onelxn #OntarioVotes #ElectionDay
Thank you @Kathleen_Wynne for everything you did for us. We’ll catch the torch.
"We're still standing" Great speech from #KathleenWynne #alwaysclassy
Others have had strong and adverse opinions to the news.
#KathleenWynne woulda done the #OntarioLiberals a favor if she'd quit before this debacle instead of after leaving her party on the edge of losing official party status in the #OntarioLegislature #onpoli She made sure to ride the ship under with that #sorrynotsorry bs
Just heard the news that Kathleen Wynne has resigned — coulda sworn she did that last week #BacktotheFuture
In her concession speech, @Kathleen_Wynne, said that she is resigning as the leader of @OntLiberal and passing on the torch. I think the right metaphor is that she drop the torch and now the province is burning. #onpoli #onelxn #OntarioVotes
Wynne holds the title of the first woman and first openly gay individual to become the Ontario Premier.
And while she might be stepping down as party leader she is still going home a winner in her riding, as she has been re-elected once again in the Don Valley West area.