Some 2,500 Liberal delegates will choose the next premier of Ontario on the weekend of Jan. 25.

Premier Dalton McGuinty’s successor will be elected at a delegated convention in a city yet be determined, because the Liberals are still checking the availability of large venues.

The new premier is expected to call back the legislature, which McGuinty controversially prorogued as part of his surprise resignation last Monday, on Feb. 18 with a throne speech.

Ontario Liberal Party president Yasir Naqvi said Sunday that leadership hopefuls will have to pay $50,000 to enter the contest and can spend $500,000 in their pursuit of the province’s top job.

“There’s a lot of excitement about this and . . . a lot of potential for renewal,” said Naqvi, the Ottawa Centre MPP who briefly considered running for leader.

“It was a tough decision and very personal. My son is only 5 months old,” he said, when asked why he’s not running.

“First and foremost, I am Rafi’s dad, and being a father is my most important new job,” said Naqvi, whose wife, Christine McMillan, is a party vice-president and long-time activist.

Leadership candidates have until Nov. 23 to join the race.

That’s also the deadline for selling $10 Liberal memberships. Only paid-up members can vote for the delegates who will cast ballots at the convention.

The Liberals will hold delegate selection meetings in all of Ontario’s 107 ridings on Jan. 12 and 13.

Each riding can send up to 16 delegates. Liberal MPPs, past and present, candidates, Grit student club executives, and other party activists are also eligible to vote.

Naqvi said leadership candidates must pay to the party a tithe of 25 per cent of all money they raise.

That means to be able to spend the maximum of $500,000, a hopeful would have to raise $625,000.

As well as the $50,000 admission fee, would-be candidates must submit the signatures of at least 250 members.

Within minutes of the party’s announcement Sunday, some leadership camps were grumbling about the rules because the hefty fees and tight timelines unfairly favour perceived front-runners.

One insider told the Star the guidelines are tailor-made for someone with “institutional support” such as Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.

Duncan told CBC Radio’s The House on Saturday that he is actively considering running and has been overwhelmed with calls of support.

“I have not arrived at a decision,” the treasurer told host Evan Solomon.

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“I’ve had a lot of offers of support from my caucus and cabinet colleagues, as well as encouragement from a whole range of party activists throughout the province,” he said, adding he is “going to take my time” before determining what to do.

Since McGuinty’s announcement numerous current and former cabinet ministers have been jockeying for position.

The premier, in office for nine years and Liberal leader since 1996, told his ministers Tuesday that they must quit cabinet if they want to be leadership candidates. This would mean a pay cut of nearly $50,000 a year and the loss of staff and resources.

Still considering a shot at the helm are: Energy Minister Chris Bentley; Education Minister Laurel Broten; Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid; Children and Youth Services Minister Eric Hoskins; Health Minister Deb Matthews; Training Colleges and Universities Minister Glen Murray; Citizenship and Immigration Minister Charles Sousa; and Municipal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne.

Outside cabinet, former ministers Gerard Kennedy, George Smitherman, and Sandra Pupatello are thinking about mounting political comebacks. Sources say other would-be candidates are also quietly lining up.

Both opposition parties on Sunday urged the Liberals not to wait until they have a new leader to reconvene the legislature.

“It’s disgraceful,” said Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean—Carleton), noting the Tories did not prorogue the house for their 2002 leadership convention when they were in power.

NDP MPP Gilles Bisson (Timmins—James Bay) said “people want MPPs back to work this year not next.”

Because the house is not in session, there is no daily question period to hold the government to account, no parliamentary debate, no legislative committees, and no lawmaking.

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