Dalton McGuinty's shocking decision to resign as Ontario premier and prorogue the legislature had commentators speculating today about the future of the Liberal MPP and his party.
On Monday, beaten down by a series of scandals, McGuinty announced his resignation and that he was adjourning the legislature.
After 16 years as party leader and nine years as premier, McGuinty said it's time for "renewal" in the Liberal Party. He will remain as MPP for Ottawa-South until the next election.
On Monday, McGuinty would not answer questions about his future, including speculation that he might seek leadership of the federal Liberals.
The Ontario Liberals have been under fire for months for an out-of-control air ambulance service and faced a second contempt motion Monday for cancelling gas plants in Mississauga and Oakville at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to taxpayers.
However, McGuinty insisted it wasn't the controversy over the gas plants that prompted his sudden resignation
Most commentators reacting Tuesday to McGuinty's decision said Ontario's premier had hit a roadblock getting his political agenda through a minority legislature. McGuinty needed support from other parties to ensure public-sector wages are frozen as the province tries to pare back a deficit in the $14-billion range.
Dalton McGuinty announced his resignation on Monday as Ontario premier, saying "it's time for renewal." (Michelle Siu/Canadian Press) Speaking on CBC's Metro Morning, Henry Jacek, a political science professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, said McGuinty's resignation was forced once he realized support for his economic plan wasn't forthcoming.
"The Conservatives were not going to support him on that," said Jacek. "Since he doesn't have a majority in the legislature, it means he can't really implement his plan on public finances. His economic plan had hit a dead end and there was really nowhere for him to go."
Also speaking on Metro Morning, the CBC news anchor and political commentator Robert Fisher said McGuinty struggled to adjust to operating a minority government after holding a majority for eight years.
"This government had a really difficult time finding that proper balance," said Fisher. "It was probably time for him to go. He couldn't make this minority government work."
Fisher also pointed to McGuinty's low popularity in recent polls and a disappointing third-place finish to the NDP in a September byelection in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Successor up in the air
Names spoken of as potential leadership candidates to replace McGuinty include Housing Minister Kathleen Wynne, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, former cabinet minister George Smitherman, and Energy Minister Chris Bentley, who has been the focus of the opposition attacks and original contempt motion over the cancelled gas plants.
Fisher said the Ontario Liberals don't have an automatic choice for a successor.
"There is no Justin Trudeau waiting in the Liberal backbenches at Queen's Park to take over the party and revitalize it."
Speaking on CBC News Network on Tuesday, Fisher also said he's doubtful McGuinty has plans to make a run at the federal Liberal leadership.
"I think federal Liberals are looking for a quick fix and Dalton McGuinty is not a quick fix," said Fisher.
Decision to adjourn legislature criticized
Both Ontario opposition parties were also critical of McGuinty's decision to adjourn the legislature.
With the legislature now prorogued, the scheduled finance committee hearings into the gas plant cancellations and all other legislative business will be cancelled. There won't be any committees either because the three parties have been unable to agree on their makeup under a minority government.
McGuinty said the timing of the recall of the legislature would have to wait until the Liberals had picked a new leader.
"I want my successor to make that decision," he said.
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