Christine Elliott made bid for PC leadership; could Ontario have three female party leaders?

When long-time Ontario MPP Christine Elliott announced her intentions to run for leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party on Wednesday, she was asked, among other things, whether she was "too nice" to do the job.

She handled the question well enough, laughing it off and stating, "I'm a lot tougher than people think." But some took umbrage with the question, suggesting it is a query only a woman would be asked.

It is hard to say whether that is the case, but if so, Ontario should know better. We have a female premier in Kathleen Wynne, we have a female leader for the third-placed NDP in Andrea Horwath. Indeed, if Elliott were to be named Conservative leader, Ontario would become the first province to have its three major political parties led by women.

"I think it is an exciting prospect and we'll see what happens," Elliott said about the idea that all three major parties could be led by women.

"I think we all have strengths to bring to the table, and I look forward to that debate."

By announcing that she would seek leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Elliott became the first candidate to officially enter the race to replace outgoing leader Tim Hudak.

Hudak announced he would be stepping down after losing a ground in the provincial election earlier this month.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath confirmed today that she would remain leader of her third-placed party, despite also turning in a disappointing result. While Horwath will face a mandatory leadership review later this year, she says she has no intention of stepping down.

While Elliot's nomination by no means secures her the party leadership, she should be considered a front-runner when the Conservative party holds its leadership convention, sometime after Hudak officially steps down on July 2.

The widow of former federal finance minister Jim Flaherty is a long-standing force in Ontario politics, and has represented with Whitby area since 2006 and is currently the party’s deputy leader.

In 2009, she ran for party leadership and came in third, behind Hudak and Frank Klees. Klees did not seek re-election in June's provincial election, and we all know what happened to Hudak.

Speculation has also linked PC MPPs Vic Fedeli and Lisa MacLeod to potential leadership bids. Ottawa stalwarts Tony Clement, Lisa Raitt and John Baird could also consider a move.

So is a female PC leader guaranteed? Not at all. But whether it is Elliott or someone else, the chances are pretty good.

Political communications consultant Gerry Nicholls suggested there was significance to the possibility of three female Ontario party leaders.

"What's happening in Ontario (and in other provinces) is, I believe, part of a trend: political parties wishing to break from the past will opt for a female leader," Nicholls told Yahoo Canada News in an email.

"Just by having a woman as a leader, a party is sending a clear message that it stands for change. We saw this with Pauline Marois in Quebec, Alison Redford in Alberta and with Kathleen Wynne in Ontario.

"That's why Christine Elliott is a clear front-runner, the PC party needs not only a new leader but it also needs a new image. And if parties are willing to elect female leaders, it's a strong sign voters are past caring about gender."

Having three female provincial party leaders isn't likely to change much across the board. Not long ago, Canada had six female provincial and territorial leaders, a number that has since dwindled to two thanks to scandal and lost elections.

Alberta's most recent election was also dominated by female leadership, with Alison Redford leading the victorious Progressive Conservatives and Danielle Smith leading the second-placed Wildrose Party. Raj Sherman led the Liberals to capture nine seats and secure third-party status.

Redford has since been replaced as premier on an interim basis by Dave Hancock after stepping down amid a spending scandal.

Still, three leaders in a provincial legislature split between three parties would be unprecedented. And when the provincial election is held four years from now, one hopes that none of them would be asked if they are "too nice" to be elected premier.