Tory MPP Frank Klees says he'll drop his bid to become Speaker of the Ontario Legislature if he doesn't find support from 40 to 50 MPPs over the next several days.
Reached by phone late Wednesday night, Mr. Klees said he has spent the past 24 hours calling MPPs to gauge their support and expects to make a decision by the end of the weekend.
"I think I'm going to have a very good idea by the end of this weekend," he said. "I may be able to make that determination sooner depending on how many people I reach."
Mr. Klees has faced strong criticism for his decision to join the race for Speaker, despite Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak's request that members of his caucus not do so. If he wins, he would reduce the number of voting opposition members to 53, the same number the minority Liberal government has.
The Tory MPP declined to say how many of his legislature colleagues have expressed support for him so far, but he said he has received some positive feedback from both the Liberal camp and among some of his fellow Tories. He said he is not trying to reach NDP MPPs because he was told they are under "strict instructions" not to vote for him.
"I have a ways to go," Mr. Klees said, adding he faces some tough competition against four Liberal candidates who have entered the race. "That distributes the votes. People have their friendships, they have their allegiances, and that certainly complicates things."
Mr. Klees said he's looking for support from at least 40 to 50 MPPs to stay in the running, and if his calls suggest he's not going to get that many, he'll bow out.
"I think that certainly would put me in a position of at least staying on the ballot for a second [round]," he said.
He said he would draw on his experience as Chief Government Whip and Deputy House Leader, as well as his 16 years of work in the legislature if he became Speaker.
"I believe I would be well equipped to provide the oversight that's necessary, to provide guidance within the legislature," Mr. Klees said.
And he added he isn't ready to give up the race, despite the criticism he's faced.
"If I didn't think I could [win], I wouldn't be in the game, right?" he said.