NDP News Release ******************** Andrea Horwath, MPP for Hamilton Centre, is the new leader of the Ontario NDP. "This is a tremendous honour. I am excited about this historic opportunity to rejuvenate our party and lead us to greater success.
Andrea Horwath, MPP for Hamilton Centre, is the new leader of the Ontario NDP.
"This is a tremendous honour. I am excited about this historic opportunity to rejuvenate our party and lead us to greater success. I look forward to growing our party and to fighting for all Ontarians, especially those who are struggling to cope with a worsening economic crisis," Horwath said to nearly 1,000 New Democrats at the party’s Leadership Convention and hundreds more watching online at home.
At a packed Hamilton Convention Centre, Horwath was declared the winner on the third ballot of a race that featured the most broad-based leadership selection process – with mail, internet and telephone voting - in Ontario political history. She defeated fellow MPPs Gilles Bisson (Timmins-James Bay), Michael Prue (Beaches-East York) and Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth).
"To my three colleagues, I want to thank you and your supporters for your outstanding dedication and hard work during an exciting race that has re-energized our party and given Ontarians reason to hope again. I look forward to working with our talented caucus to offer a positive, progressive vision for our province," Horwath said.
Horwath, 46, becomes the first woman leader of the Ontario NDP and just the second woman to lead a major Ontario political party. She will mark her first full day as leader on International Women’s Day.