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Hudak to step down as PC leader

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GRIMSBY, Ont. -- Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak won his riding, but won't lead his party into the next election.

Hudak, after helming the Tories to back-to-back losses against the Liberals, told supporters Thursday night he was proud of the Tory campaign but that's it for him as leader.

"I will not be leading the Ontario PC party into the next election," he said.

Hudak not only failed to knock off a scandal-plagued Liberal government, but his Tories appeared to be losing about one-quarter of their seats Thursday night, falling to 27.

Hudak comfortably defeated his Niagara West-Glanbrook riding opponents to win his own seat, but had been aiming higher.

Many expected the Tories to at least challenge for a minority government.

A subdued crowd of about 100 people gathered to watch the results come in at Hudak's campaign headquarters at the Mountain Ridge Community Centre in Grimsby.

"We just don't understand. How can you believe that people in Ontario can forgive (the Liberals) for the billions of dollars that they cost us," said Pat Coulson, of Fenwick, Ont., who came to show her support.

"I am extremely surprised and shocked. That's politics. You never know."

At the start of the 40-day campaign, as was the case leading into the 2011 election, many pundits believed it was Hudak's to lose.

Some political observers believed the outcome of this election would prove vital to Hudak's future as head of the Tories: Win and be Ontario's next premier, lose and the calls for his resignation would undoubtedly grow louder.

Hudak pledged to cut Ontario's 1.2 million-member public service by 100,000 of the 300,000 positions the Liberals have added since 2003. He said it would have been done using attrition, while protecting frontline workers in health, education and public safety.

Various economists took aim at Hudak's eight-year, Million Jobs Plan, questioning its numbers and math.

Hudak has been leader of the PCs since 2009.

The Fort Erie, Ont., native has been a Niagara-area MPP for 19 years. He was first elected in 1995 as part of Mike Harris' PC government.

ray.spiteri@sunmedia.ca

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