The major players in Dalton McGuinty's last Liberal cabinet were reelected to their seats Wednesday as Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory became the first provincial party leader to lose his seat in 17 years.
Tory was trounced in the Don Valley West riding by former Liberal Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.
Wynne was one of several prominent members of the previous cabinet to be reelected. Also winning their seats: Finance Minister Greg Sorbara, Health Minister George Smitherman, Attorney General Michael Bryant, Energy Minister Dwight Duncan and Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello.
Former Premier McGuinty also won his seat of Ottawa South.
"I think our campaign struck a chord with the people of the province," Sorbara said after his victory. "I think going into the campaign, there was no mood to change the government, however, as the campaign developed, people understood what we were proposing for the next four years, everything from new investments in education, to a new public holiday in February. And I think people gained confidence in Premier McGuinty as well. They saw him as the person to continue the agenda we established four years ago."
Gerry Phillips, who was in charge of the citizenship and immigration portfolio, was re-elected in the riding of Scarborough-Agincourt.
In Don Valley East Public Infrastructure Renewal Minister David Caplan was re-elected, ditto for Environment Minister Laurel Broten.
Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky also emerged victorious in Prince Edward-Hastings, while Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur won back her seat in Ottawa-vanier. Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield also won her riding of Etobicoke Centre.
Harinder Takhar, the former small business and entrepreneurship minister was re-elected in Mississauga-Erindale, while Revenue Minister Michael Chan came out on top in Markham-Unionville.
Also winning their seats:
Colleges and Universities Minister Chris Bentley
Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Gerretsen
Tourism Minister Jim Bradley
Labour Minister Steve Peters
Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter
Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson