At the Ontario Liberal Leadership Convention on Saturday, top contender Kathleen Wynne openly addressed that she is a lesbian.
"Is Ontario ready for a gay premier? You've heard that question. Let’s say what that actually means: Can a gay woman win?" Wynne asked.
UPDATE: Kathleen Wynne has been elected leader of the Ontario Liberal Party and will be the province's first woman -- and openly gay -- premier.
"There was a time, not that long ago, when most of us in this race would not have been deemed suitable," she said. "But this province has changed."
A former education minister, Wynne represents Toronto Don Valley-West and entered the convention with the second largest number of delegates, behind Sandra Pupatello.
Her status as the de facto Toronto candidate, an attribute which has hurt other hopefuls in the past, has been a top talking point during the race. Sandra Pupatello, Wynne's chief rival, has touted her Windsor background throughout the campaign.
Wynne was first elected in 2003 when the McGuinty Liberals took office. She served as education minister from 2006 until 2010, then transportation minister for nearly a year before moving to municipal affairs and aboriginal affairs after the 2011 election.
In 2007, Wynne beat former Progressive Conservative leader John Tory when he challenged her in the provincial election.
Wynne would make history if she won the leadership race, becoming Ontario's first female and openly gay premier.
She is married to Jane Rounthwaite and has three children (from a previous marriage), and two grandchildren.
Wynne has said her homosexuality has come up "as an electability issue" in every campaign, but isn't a deciding factor.
"In every election homophobia has been part of the landscape and in every campaign I've been able to become connected enough to my constituents that they know who I am and that I can be elected on my merits," she said in a recent interview.
"I really believe that it underestimates Ontarians to assume that sexual orientation or gender or race or background are going to be the determining features."
Wynne, who is seen as a centre or left-of-centre candidate, has run on a platform of conciliation with Ontario's teachers and unions and collaboration with opposition parties (code for Andrea Horwath's NDP) in order to avoid an election. She has also promised to recall Ontario's legislature from prorogation and serve as agriculture minister for at least one year if she becomes premier.
With files from The Canadian Press
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Kathleen Wynne in Ontario, Pauline Marois in Quebec, Christy Clark in B.C., Alison Redford in Alberta. There is also Kathy Dunderdale in Newfoundland and Labrador and Eva Aariak in Nunavut
1. Kathleen Wynne - 57.04 per cent
2. Sandra Pupatello - 42.96 per cent
| @ scott_stinson : The thronged masses await. #olpldr http://t.co/XjScLd6K |
| @ Kris680News : All that's left of the protest at Church & Carlton, demo held outside the Liberal leadership convention #olpldr http://t.co/7p2Ks08h |
| @ robferguson1 : The @Kathleen_Wynne #olpldr campaign is handing out smoked meat sandwiches from@Caplansky. Wish I hadn't eaten already! #onpoli |
| @ genevievetomney : We're being told that both @Kathleen_Wynne and @SandraPupatello will appear onstage together as Yasir Naqvi reads results-Stay tuned #olpldr |
| @ suntooz : New premier will be "incoming premier." Once she and @Dalton_McGuinty meet with LG, she's the premier-designate #onpoli #olpldr |
| @ DanielKitts : Kennedy tells Steve Paikin that despite being through this before he is immensely disappointed to lose. #onpoli #OLPldr |
As we wait for the results of the third and final ballot, did you know that teens as young as 14 years old voted today at the convention?
(h/t to CBC News)
Many are saying Kathleen Wynne's convention speech has won her the job of premier. You can watch it, and read responses, here http://huff.to/XDqO44
| @ so_bell : Flood was quickly cleared up - cheer from the delegates as they resume entering the ballot box area. #olpldr |
| @ CBCQueensPark : Unless there's a concession, we'll be here a while. Huge voting lineup snakes past CBC TV. #olpldr http://t.co/KyIz4lFM |
| @ SusanDelacourt : Richard Nixon's plumbers never retired, apparently. #Olpldr delayed because of flooding problem. |
That according to a police estimate reported by CBC News. You can read about the protest and see photos here.
http://huff.to/V9rT67
| @ lrobertsglobal : Likely looking at next lib cabinet led by Kathleen Wynne. Awaiting 3rd ballot results liberal convention #onpoli http://t.co/ApTmeFvM |
Sandra Pupatello will now have a tough time winning the leadership.
Who he's throwing his support behind remains a mystery. Looks like he'll play kingmaker (or queen maker in this case) once again.
| @ Justin_Ling : Oh, apparently Sousa and Kennedy are moving together. So this is about to be decided. Weee! #olpldr |
2. Kathleen Wynne - 36.18 per cent
3. Gerard Kennedy - 13.75 per cent
4. Charles Sousa - 9.79 per cent
5. Harinder Takhar - 0.87 per cent
Takhar, who has already pledged his support to Pupatello, is automatically eliminated. Look to see what Sousa and Kennedy will do now.
The results of the second ballot are now way overdue. Luckily, it seems we'll be getting answers shortly.
| @ spaikin : The floor awaits the 2nd ballot results which are allegedly less than 10 mins away. #onpoli #olpldr http://t.co/fsnF2bw9 |
What the street outside the convention usually looks like and what it looked like during a protest held by Ontario teachers and unions on Saturday.
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| @ CBCQueensPark : @GKennedyOLP source tells me he needs to grow by gainin at least 75 @harindertakhar delegates. If he doesn't, it's over for him. #olpldr |
Rick Mercer is among the many observers cracking jokes http://huff.to/XIa3FL
| @ OPSEUSisters : 'Make the BOSSES take the LOSSES!' Another awesome sign at the #J26rally today! #olpldr http://t.co/V54n61Sh |
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The Huffington Post Canada | Posted: 01/26/2013 11:48 am EST | Updated: 01/26/2013 11:08 pm EST