ONTARIO LIBERAL LEADERSHIP CONTENDERS IN BRACEBRIDGE TODAY

BRACEBRIDGE — Six weeks out from a leadership convention, local provincial Liberals get a look this afternoon at five of the six candidates vying to resurrect the party from near oblivion.

After a devastating loss to Doug Ford in 2018, in which the government for 15 years fell from 54 seats to seven and lost official party status in the Ontario legislature, the three men and women hoping to return the Liberal to power are wooing delegates who will be chosen Feb. 6-7 for the March 7 provincial convention.

Five of them will be at the YIG community room (270 Wellington St.,) Jan. 27 from 5-7 p.m.: MPPs Michael Coteau and Mitzie Hunter; former candidates Alvin Tedjo and Kate Graham; and Ottawa lawyer Brenda Hollingsworth.

Former minister Steven Del Duca, who has previously visited the riding in his bid, will not be in attendance.

All are welcome to meet and speak with the candidates, who will give brief addresses at 5:45 p.m., then will take questions from the audience.

The evening is being sponsored by the local riding association.

MPP John Fraser is the interim leader since Kathleen Wynne stepped down after the party’s worst loss in its 163 years and the worst by a governing party in Ontario politics.