In a surprise move this evening (Oct. 15/12) shortly after 6 p.m. Dalton McGuinty announced he would be stepping down as Ontario Liberal leader and premier of Ontario.

McGuinty has been leader for 16 years, 9 of those as premier. He said “...it's time for renewal. It's time for the next Liberal premier. It's time for the next set of Liberal ideas to guide our province forward.”

Dalton's father was an Ontario politician and his brother David is an Ottawa opposition MP in the House of Commons. His tenure has come under fire recently for moving power plants as well as health ministry issues, Ornge Air Ambulance and the provincial deficit. His resignation followed a day of rancor at Queen's Park over power plant documents and the exact amount this has cost the province. Early estimates of $40M ballooned to opposition estimates of $700M.

His energy minister, Chris Bentley is facing possible contempt charges over the power plant document issue and it is thought, with the recent revelation of 20,000 pages of extra documents miraculously showing up, that Mr. McGuinty might face contempt charges himself.

McGuinty has asked the Lt. Governor to prorogue provincial parliament and has also contacted the President of the Ontario Liberals to set up a leadership convention as soon as possible.

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