Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. (CP photo)Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty has announced that he will be resigning as the premier of Ontario.
McGuinty made his announcement during a surprise caucus meeting shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday evening.
"After 16 years as leader of the Ontario Liberal party, and after nine years as premier, it's time for renewal," McGuinty said to a room packed with reporters and members of the Liberal caucus. "It's time for the next Liberal premier. It's time for the next set of Liberal ideas to guide our province forward."
[ Related: Liberal insider on McGuinty running for federal Libs: “If he runs…he will win” ]
McGuinty shared that he asked the party president to convene a leadership convention "at the earliest possible opportunity," the National Post reports. McGuinty, the premier of Canada's most populous province since 2003, will continue to serve as premier until the Liberal party chooses a new leader.
Pundits Stephen Carter, Rebecca Blaikie and Mark Holland discuss the sudden resignation of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty
The premier also announced that he is proroguing the provincial legislature in order to "negotiate wage freezes with the province's labour partners," said the National Post. McGuinty also mentioned that he would like to reach out the Opposition in order to get them on the same page with making the wage freeze possible.
"To this end, I met with the Lieutenant Governor earlier today to ask that we prorogue the House so that we can pursue both discussions, both tracks, in a way that is free of the heightened rancour that has sadly, too frequently characterized our legislature of late," said McGuinty.
"So, when the House returns, we’re either going to have negotiated agreements in hand or a legislative plan supported by the opposition."