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Photo by Stan Behal / Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

“We need to reconnect with each other now that the election is over and with our communities and use that same capacity that we have had for many, many years to rebuild,” she said. “I can’t tell you how long that’s going to take but our target is four years.”

The party’s president, Brian Johns, said the process to select an interim leader from the seven caucus members was underway, though he declined to say how long it would take or when the party would begin looking for a permanent successor to Wynne.

Former Liberal cabinet minister John Milloy, now a professor of public ethics at Wilfrid Laurier University, said the last thing the party should do is rush to select a permanent leader.

People are exhausted and resources are thin following the campaign, he said, and the party would do better to bide its time.

“I would think that they’d want to consolidate, get their feet under them, figure out how they’re going to operate in the legislature,” he said.

“I could see them choosing … the middle option — someone who’s going to carry the ball for a while and then you sort of have a convention closer to the next election, in a couple of years, where you could actually showcase someone.”

While it’s too early to name contenders to lead the Liberals into the next election, the party has several options to hold the fort before then, he said.

I absolutely think the Ontario Liberal party is coming back, I have no doubt about that but it's going to be a long road for them ... they're going to need some time to lick their wounds, to retool, to identify a new leadership

If the Liberals want a “seasoned hand” to act as the party’s caretaker, legislator Michael Gravelle would be a good choice and is respected within the party, he said. Or they could pick among their younger legislators if they want a fresh face who may eventually seek to take up the mantle permanently, he said.

Either way, the party will need to be creative to shore up excitement on a shoestring budget, he said, noting the upcoming federal election will provide an opportunity to capitalize on the federal party’s brand and keep Liberal flames alive.

The Tory majority could play in the party’s favour if the new government proves ineffective or starts making mistakes, he added.

“But the biggest challenge that I think the provincial Liberals have is they’re going to have to differentiate themselves from the New Democratic Party and I think quite frankly that was one of the issues (in the election).”