Ontario NDP MPP Peter Tabuns has been chosen by the party’s council to serve as interim leader. .“It’s my honour to take on the interim leadership of the Ontario NDP,” said Tabuns at a Wednesday press conference. .“Our caucus is reenergized, and we’re committed to taking on the Ford government in the months to come.” .Despite being advertised as a public press conference, the Western Standard was barred from entering for not being accredited media. .Tabuns said there will be “no free pass” for Ontario Premier Doug Ford. He said the NDP will fight Ford’s cuts and privatization efforts. .He described the NDP as standing up for “patients waiting far too long for care, seniors in long-term care, and the kids who need more help to get back on track.” .“We’re going to fight to rebuild healthcare, long-term care, and education,” he said. .The Ontario Progressive Conservatives said with Tabuns as interim leader, Ontarians will be “getting more of the same from the NDP.” .“The NDP had a chance to pick an interim leader that would say yes to getting things done, to keeping costs down for families, and to building Ontario,” said the Ontario PCs. .“Instead, they chose a new leader who is the same old NDP.”.NDP party council will hold another meeting to determine the rules and date for the leadership race. .Ontario NDP president Janelle Brady said the party is in a strong position. .“I want to congratulate Peter Tabuns on his election as interim leader,” said Brady. .“The choice of a new leader and the direction of our party belongs to the tens of thousands of NDP members in Ontario, and I can confidently say the party is in good hands.”.Provincial council members chose the new leader, taking into account a recommendation from the provincial executive. The provincial executive consulted with the NDP caucus and committees when it made this decision. .The Ontario NDP caucus suggested Tabuns serve as interim party leader on June 13, which would make him the temporary official opposition leader. .Tabuns has served as the NDP MPP for Toronto-Danforth since 2006. .Andrea Horwath served as NDP leader from 2009 to 2022. Horwath announced she would resign as NDP leader on June 2 after the Ontario PCs won the last election. .“We didn’t get there this time,” she said. .“It makes me sad, but it makes me happy because our team is so strong right now.”
