Canada: Ford captures majority government in Ontario

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Early Friday morning the results were clear -- the Canadian province of Ontario, which contains more than a third of the country’s population, had elected a Conservative majority government.

The new premier, Doug Ford -- brother of the notorious late Toronto Mayor, Rob Ford, is untested in provincial politics. His only previous experience is as a Toronto municipal councillor.

“I know my brother Rob is looking down from heaven,” Ford said in his victory speech as the crowd roared at the Toronto Congress Centre. “I’m getting chills talking about him right now.”

Ontario, which economic statistics would indicate has recently wrested back its status as Canada’s economic engine from the oil producing provinces, has a population of about 15 million.

Just after midnight, it was reported that the Progressive Conservatives had captured 76 seats (63 is needed for a majority), the New Democrat Party 39, the Liberals seven and the Green (environmental) Party one.

It was a devastating defeat for the Liberals who had governed the province for 15 years and after the results were in, Premier Kathleen Wynne resigned as leader of the party.