Doug is obviously done, but Del Duca is still getting his feet wet and Horwath has probably already peaked.

In other words, the Ontario PCs have a very good tactical case for turfing Doug and replacing him with a nice centrist Tory, something along the lines of the disgraceful mayor of that Sodom pit Toronto. As for timing, they want to do this as soon as possible before the next election.

Doug did everything they wanted, and he was the right guy to smash a longstanding Liberal dynasty. He was also able to do some quality grandstanding, and will die on the cross for much of what in its totality may be better regarded as party policy than personal conviction. He will also die on the cross of lockdown excesses.

There are a few obvious candidates.

1. Christine Elliott (Flaherty), deputy premier, she's a health minister, and even got an appointment from Wynne, so she has bipartisan appeal and "COVID relevance." She's also old. Personally, I think she will become Premier by resignation, getting her name in the book like Joe Biden or Theresa May, and that's not nothing to these people. Then she'll not contest the leadership, and probably retires to some plum appoimtment.

2. Patrick Brown. Has been fully exonetated, is a very popular mayor in a city he has no connection with (he's from Barrie lmao), and has always been excellent at outreach to immigrants, especially south Indians. He's young and centrist, is a sellout on climate &c.

3. Vic Fideli (who, word on the street is, helped to coup PB), smooth operator, interim party leader, finance minister

4. Caroline Mulroney