Ontario Goes Liberal

Dalton McGuinty led the Ontario Liberal party to a majority government in Thursday's provincial election, and will become the next Premier of Ontario. It is only the second time in 65 years that the Liberals have had a majority in Ontario.

The Liberals doubled the number of seats they hold in the legislature, winning 72 of 103 seats, up from 35 in the 1999 election.

Ontario voters were clearly looking for a change. Many voters also objected to the Conservatives' negative election campaign, which featured frequent personal attacks on the Liberal leader, including calling McGuinty an "evil reptilian kitten eater."

The Liberal election platform included:

• smaller classes in the junior grades - with a cap of 20 students per class
• raising the legal school dropout age to 18 from 16
• shorter waits for health care
• hiring more nurses and increasing the number of nurses with full-time jobs
• making it easier for foreign-trained doctors to practice in Ontario
• cleaner air
• safer drinking water

All party leaders were re-elected, but the future of both Ernie Eves and NDP leader Howard Hampton is unsure. The NDP increased its percentage of the popular vote, but lost two seats bringing its total to just 7. The Ontario legislature rules say a party must have 12 seats to maintain official party status.

More: Ontario Election Results | Ontario Political Parties