Finance Minister Vic Fideli. (Photo from Vic Fedeli's Facebook page.)Finance Minister Vic Fideli. (Photo from Vic Fedeli's Facebook page.)
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UPDATE: PCs Name Interim Leader And Vote To Hold Leadership Race

The Ontario Progressive Conservative caucus has picked Vic Fedeli as its interim leader, but the party may have new leadership before voters head to the polls in June.

Caucus members choose Fedeli during a meeting Friday in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations that forced Patrick Brown to resign.

The 61-year-old Nipissing MPP was first elected to represent the northeastern Ontario riding in 2011. He also serves as the party's finance critic. Prior to heading to Queen's Park, Fedeli spent two terms as the mayor of North Bay.

“It is humbling and an honour to have the unanimous support of my friends in the Ontario PC Caucus and I graciously accept the position of Leader," said Fedeli in a statement. “The days, weeks, and months ahead will not be easy. But, I’m confident that as a team we can, and will, bring the change Ontario needs. Change that renews Ontario’s status as the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family.”

In accepting the position of interim leader, Fedeli stated that harassment has no place in society and that any allegations of sexual misconduct must be taken "very seriously."

It was announced later in the day on Friday that PC Party executives have voted to hold a leadership race sometime before March 24, before the election campaign. Fedeli will be allowed to run if he chooses to.

"While the party’s elected executive is still working to determine the best way to select our permanent leader, today my caucus colleagues and I agreed that Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli will be our interim leader," said Lambton-Kent- Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton in an emailed statement. "The next steps are for the party executive to exercise their responsibility under the party constitution and chart the course for our next leadership election process where party members will select the next permanent leader of the Ontario PC Party."

News of Fedeli's appointment as interim leader was met with mixed reaction on social media.

"Please tell me you are holding a leadership race and you are not propping up another middle-aged white guy to lose... Vote Christine Elliott or Lisa Raitt in quick and give your selves a fighting chance," tweeted one PC supporter.

While another wrote "perfect man for the job and northern Ontario! If he’s leader in June for the first time ever I’ll vote pc."

London North Centre PC Candidate Susan Truppe tweeted "congrats to @VictorFedeli on becoming the new @OntarioPCParty interim leader. A good friend of London & an excellent choice! I know he'll do a great job leading the party to VICtory!"

The decision to name Fedeli as the interim leader came one day after Brown's abrupt resignation. In a news release issued early Thursday morning, Brown announced he was stepping aside as PC leader.

Brown's resignation followed a news conference in which he "categorically" denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by two women.

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