Faced with spending scandals, a $12.5-billion deficit and what many pundits called an angry and disillusioned electorate, the Liberal Party defied opinion polls and won a majority government Thursday night.
If you didn’t stay up to watch it all unfold, here are five things you might have missed on election night:
Kathleen Wynne’s shy partner: After becoming the first elected female and openly gay premier of Ontario, Wynne beckoned her partner, Jane Rounthwaite, to the stage during her victory speech. Rounthwaite joined Wynne for a brief moment as cameras flashed all around them, then quickly stepped down, letting the premier bask in her victory.
“You can stay!” Wynne laughed.
Twitter patrol: Some voters got their knuckles rapped for tweeting photos of their marked ballots. Elections Ontario’s social media staff publicly admonished some Twitter users for such photos, saying they’re against the rules.
@BudWitzke Please remove this picture as this is not allowed under the Election Act.
— Elections Ontario (@ElectionsON) June 12, 2014
The prime minister’s reaction: The defeat of PC Leader Tim Hudak was felt among Conservatives across the country. Many Twitter users wondered how Prime Minister Stephen Harper felt about the Ontario Liberals’ surprise majority government win.
If Harper was disappointed Thursday night, his brief statement did not show it.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate Premier Kathleen Wynne and her team on their election victory,” he said.
“I look forward to working with Premier Wynne on issues of importance to Ontarians and all Canadians, including promoting jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.”
And the federal Liberals’ elation: In a statement, federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau called Wynne’s victory a “historic moment for the province” and said he looks forward to working with her.
The outcome of the Ontario election will undoubtedly boost the confidence of Ottawa Liberals.
Voter turnout: Some analysts predicted a dismal voter turnout, but according to an unofficial tally from Elections Ontario, 52.1 per cent of Ontarians cast their ballots Thursday. That’s up from 48.2 per cent in 2011, the lowest voter turnout the province has seen.
