Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne let out a "Hallelujah" after John Tory emerged victorious from Monday's Toronto mayoral election.
The premier was on a trade mission to China when reporters told her that the former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader, whom she defeated in the 2007 provincial election in Don Valley West, had taken the mayor's chair, The Toronto Star reported.
"Congratulations to John. I'm very pleased for him and I look forward to working with him," she said.
Wynne was particularly complimentary of Tory's SmartTrack transit plan, which would add 22 stops and 53 kilometres of subway track with "no new taxes."
"I think it's got a lot to recommend. It's something that we can work with," she told the newspaper.
Though Wynne was officially neutral on Toronto's mayoral race, members of her government openly supported Tory, The Globe and Mail reported.
One of them, Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid, was with the premier in China.
"We're here in China trying to drum up business — it's really going to help to have a mayor that's going to be able to sell Toronto effectively, that's professional," he told the newspaper.
Duguid expects Wynne and Tory to work together effectively.
The premier's relationship with former mayor Rob Ford deteriorated after his powers were taken away amid the crack cocaine scandal.
Wynne opted to deal with deputy mayor Norm Kelly over the mayor himself, a move that had Doug Ford openly criticizing the premier before the spring provincial election, the Star reported.
But Wynne struck a conciliatory tone after Monday's election, thanking Doug for running and saying the Ford family is "going through a lot right now," the Globe said.
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