Doug Ford, the newly crowned leader of Ontario’s beleaguered Opposition is meeting with his main rival Christine Elliott, who has so far refused to concede.
Ford met with Elliott on Sunday, a day after she narrowly lost the leadership race to him, a spokeswoman for Elliott said, though she would not confirm what the two were discussing.
Ford made his first public appearance since being announced as leader earlier in the day at Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He was all smiles as he walked along Bloor Street shaking hands with parade-goers, many congratulating him on his win.
Ford was announced as leader late Saturday night, seven hours later than the winner was originally scheduled to be heard at a convention centre in Markham, Ont. Party president Jag Badwal said Ford narrowly eked out the win over former provincial legislator Elliott on the third ballot. Elliott finished 153 points behind Ford on the final ballot.
Toronto lawyer Caroline Mulroney placed third, while social conservative advocate Tanya Granic Allen finished last.
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Elliott disputed Saturday’s results, alleging they stemmed from “serious irregularities” in the vote and pledging to investigate further.
The party said, however, that Ford’s win was definitive. It noted that there had been an issue with the allocation of certain electoral votes but the matter was reviewed and resolved.
“These results are definitive and provide a clear mandate to Doug Ford as outlined in our party constitution and the leadership election rules,” said Hartley Lefton, chair of the party’s leadership election organizing committee.
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When asked about Elliott’s concerns at the parade, Ford said he wishes her the best and that “we’re focused on Kathleen Wynne right now.”
“We’re going to work hard and we’re going to bring prosperity back to Ontario.”
More than 64,000 votes were cast in the hastily organized leadership race.
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The contest was launched in late January after former leader Patrick Brown resigned abruptly amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
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Ford said his focus this week will be getting his team together.
“We’ll have some meetings and we’ll have a strong game plan moving forward for the people of Ontario.”
–With files from The Canadian Press
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