Friday, February 7th, 2025

Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives have picked Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson to be the Leader of their party until they elect a new one.

On July 2, the 28-member PC caucus elected Wilson to replace Tim Hudak. In the last parliament, Wilson served as Hudak’s House Leader.

Hudak stepped down as party Leader after the PC’s June 12 loss to the Liberals. It was the second time Hudak had led his party to defeat in a provincial election.

Although Wilson is now Interim Leader, he will not run for the permanent position at the PC’s next leadership convention.

“My job is a caretaker role,” he said. “I will not be creating any major policy. I know we will have a lot of good candidates for Leader in the race and my job will be to make sure they’re highlighted and the talents of the caucus are highlighted. I remain humble, and will administer things behind the scenes, and keep things together in the interim period.”

Wilson is one of the two longest-serving MPPs in the Tory caucus. Since being elected to the Ontario Legislature in September 1990, Wilson has served as Minister of Health; Minister of Energy, Science and Technology; Minister of Northern Development and Mines; and Minister of the Environment.

Wilson, who lives in Wasaga Beach, recently won this riding in June’s municipal election. His family has lived in the area for 200 years.

The Conservatives will meet on Saturday, July 5 to choose a date for their leadership contest.

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