Steven Del Duca will become the next leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. But at this weekend's convention, the unassigned delegates shouldn't go too easy on him. Less a surprise and more a yawning "oh really?", Ontario Liberals are choosing their new leader this weekend, Saturday March 7th, in one of the last delegated convention leadership races in Canadian politics. Over 2000 delegates, mostly selected a month prior by Liberals in meetings held by each riding association, will gather at the International Centre in Mississauga. According to the party, 1171 of 2084 elected delegates or about 56% are pledged to Del Duca. Another 350 or so "Super Delegates" - current and former Liberal MPPs, MPs and such - are free to vote however they want. So, why not deny Del Duca the easy first ballot win?First off, if this convention were any more predictable it would have happened already. Any hope of newsworthiness is basically lost, UNLESS there was a surprise on the first ballot. Secondly, look at the alternate candidates, and what they've brought to the table. People like Kate Graham and Brenda Hollingsworth have shown themselves to be smart, engaged and interesting potential leaders. Graham particularly has mounted a last minute rally to gather in any stray votes out there, showing a real spark and attracting the one card-carrying Sudbury Politics host. Broadly, the whole concept of the delegated convention and how leaders should be chosen is under scrutiny (that's a discussion for another day) and stifling the voices of newer Liberal activists seems counter-productive. In the end, the Ontario Liberals will make the safe choice. But the party's establishment doesn't have to serve the leadership to Steven Del Duca on a silver platter. Send it to a second ballot. Watch the freed delegates congregate, perhaps around the front runner, or perhaps to send a message to Liberals they can take to the bank in 2022. - Jeff MacIntyre- Rachel Adriaans- Richard Eberhardt