OTTAWA - Facing an automatic leadership review this weekend following last year's Ontario election, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Friday he not only expected to easily survive the vote, but he fully intends to stick around to lead the Liberal Party in the next provincial election in 2011.

About 1,000 Ontario Liberals are gathered in Ottawa this weekend for their annual general meeting, but it was obvious even before delegates started arriving that no one is looking to dump the first leader in 70 years to lead the party to back-to-back majority governments.

"I'm extraordinarily confident that the people of the party will acknowledge this leader who has led us to two successive majority governments," said Health Minister and Deputy Premier George Smitherman, who was sporting a "McGuinty 2011" lapel pin.

"Everybody I know will be strongly endorsing his leadership, and has the full hope and expectation that he'll be our leader again in 2011."

There was no fanfare and really no official statement when McGuinty told reporters on his way into the meeting that he planned to stay on as leader at least until the next Ontario election in three years. He merely said "Yep" when a journalist asked if he planned to run again in 2011.

McGuinty admitted that his desire to seek a third mandate may frustrate some of the more ambitious members of his caucus and cabinet, but insisted that was a good thing for any political party.

"I think it's a healthy thing," he said. "I'm hardly a repository of all wisdom, and I've got a strong team. One of the jobs that I have, obviously, is to make sure that folks are feeling engaged and that they're making a difference and that their talents are being utilized."

McGuinty received the support of 92 per cent of Liberal delegates during a leadership review after the 2003 election when he won his first majority government.

Delegates this weekend will be asked a yes or no question: "Do you wish for the Ontario Liberal party to have a leadership convention?" Results are expected Sunday afternoon.

McGuinty also said he would remind Liberals that while they have every reason to celebrate winning last October's election, they must also realize the Ontario economy -- and many of its families -- are struggling because of the downturn in the manufacturing and forestry sectors.

"One of the messages that I'll be delivering to the party members here is that while there is a real reason for us to celebrate, what we're celebrating is the fact that we've been given the responsibility to continue to serve Ontarians." he said.

"We find ourselves in a challenging economic time frame, so we've got to stay sober minded, and keep in mind that their challenges become our challenges and their hopes become our hopes."

The Liberal delegates will also hear from Alastair Campbell, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's media expert, who was known as the "King of Spin," in a closed door session.

"Obviously, he was a guy with a lot of experience on the inside, and we're eager to hear from him and get his perspective on things," said McGuinty.