Frank Gunn/CP
TORONTO – Ontario’s new premier Kathleen Wynne says she is confident she will put together a budget that will get the approval of the opposition parties.
Wynne was sworn in today, becoming the province’s first female leader and Canada’s first openly gay premier.
The new leader of the Liberal minority government says there’s a huge opportunity to find common ground with the New Democrats and the Progressive Conservatives to avoid an early election.
The Liberals have been under fire from the opposition for what was seen as the politically-motivated cancellations of two gas plants, which will cost taxpayers at least $230 million.
Wynne has also vowed to mend relations with the province’s public school teachers, who are angry at the Liberals for imposing contracts on them.
In addition to being premier, Wynne is also serving as the agriculture minister, a move she hopes will raise the Liberals’ profile in rural ridings, where they were virtually wiped out in the 2011 election.
Wynne replaces Dalton McGuinty, who announced his surprise resignation in October.
