I've tried to lead a progressive, activist government.

McGuinty was able to maintain his party's standing in the polls in the last stages preventing Eves from making up ground during the leader's debate. The budget also broke a previous promise to balance the budget in 2007–08. The Liberals defended the premium by arguing that the previous government had a hidden deficit and McGuinty claimed he needed to break his campaign pledge on taxation to fulfill his promises on other fronts.

Following an Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention Kathleen Wynne was sworn in as Premier on February 11 2013. In 2011 he became the first Liberal premier to secure a third consecutive term since Sir Oliver Mowat after his party was re-elected in that year's provincial election albeit with a minority. On October 15 2012 McGuinty announced that he would resign from his position as leader and premier.