TORONTO - Ontario's Progressive Conservatives didn't select an interim leader at Tuesday's caucus meeting after all.

The P.C. executive met last Friday to discuss the election of a new leader, just hours after John Tory's surprise defeat by the governing Liberals in a byelection.

Most of the 24 Opposition caucus members were to meet Tuesday, but have agreed to postpone talks on an interim leader for now.

They're waiting for party veteran Bob Runciman, who has been acting Opposition leader in the legislature since Tory lost his seat in the 2007 election, to return to Canada.

It's not known if Runciman wants to stay on in Tory's place outside the legislature until a June leadership convention.

Party president Ken Zeise says the executive agrees they want the new leader to be in place by July 1.

The Conservatives haven't yet decided where to hold their leadership convention, but will allow voting to take place in all 107 ridings as well as at the convention.