Profile of Ontario Liberal leadership front-runner Kathleen Wynne

Jan 18, 2013 | News

Ontario Liberal candidate Kathleen Wynne is in second place with 25 per cent of votes Courtesy WikiCommons

Ontario Liberal candidate Kathleen Wynne is a front-runner in the Ontario Liberal Leadership race Courtesy WikiCommons

Compiled by Tashae Haughton

Kathleen Wynne is one of six candidates who hopes to become the next Ontario Liberal leader.

The Globe and Mail reported from the Canadian Press that if chosen as leader, Wynne plans to resume Legislature on Feb. 19 ending prorogation and not to call an election this year.  Wynne told the Globe and Mail she wants to create a budget that’s unanimous  to gain approval by all parties represented.  She told the Canadian Press she doesn’t want a budget that is doomed for failure.

Wynne announced on her personal website that she has twelve more endorsements from former MPPs, riding presidents, and past Ontario Liberal candidates who are delegates at next week’s leadership convention.

Wynne also has the support of Glen Murray, MPP for Toronto Centre, a candidate who dropped out of the race on Jan. 10. Murray told 680 News Wynne is the best chance for the renewal he wants to see in Ontario and in the Liberal party.

 

Wynne, 59, a Toronto native, served as minister of education in Premier Dalton McGuinty’s  government, before he stepped down as leader. On her website, kathleenwynne.com, she said she helped improve Ontario schools by introducing full-day kindergarten, smaller class sizes, increased graduation rates and increased test scores.

Wynne’s website highlighted her work as a  former minister of transportation and said she created jobs to help boost the economy and managed the largest expansion for transit, including the expansion of Highway 407 East extension and the Windsor-Essex Parkway.

Wynne said on her website that  as minister of municipal affairs and housing,  she helped First Nations communities with their mining development, land claims, and helped improve affordable housing and recreation programs.

The Ontario Liberal candidate is married to Jane Rounthwaite who has three children, and two grandchildren, reports Global Toronto.

The Liberal leadership convention starts Friday Jan. 25 at Ryerson University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) with  1,837 liberal delegates.