in Canada, Ontario’s new premier, the first openly gay head of a Canadian province, said on Sunday it would be “wonderful” if her victory can help society be more accepting of young gay people.
Ontario’s Liberals chose Kathleen Wynne, 59, on Saturday to become the head of the minority government ruling Canada’s most-populous province, which is grappling with a huge deficit and tenuous growth.
Wynne told a post-victory news conference on Sunday that her priorities would be to heal wounds in the provincial legislature so the parties can work together to tackle spending and improve the education system.
“The rancor and the viciousness of the legislature can’t continue,” she said. “We absolutely have to continue to work out our disagreements.”
Responding to a question on what it meant to be the first openly gay premier in Ontario, Wynne said that while she was not an activist, she hoped she could be a role model for young gay people uncertain of their place in society.
“If I can help people to be less frightened, then that is a wonderful, wonderful thing,” she said.
In her acceptance speech at the weekend leadership convention, Wynne, 59, a former Ontario education minister, thanked her partner, Jane, for her support during a three-month campaign. Ontario was one of the first Canadian provinces to allow same-sex marriage.
Reuters
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