Liberal MPPs are rallying behind embattled leader Bonnie Crombie in the wake of the broadside against her fired by former rival Nate Erskine-Smith.
With Crombie facing a leadership review at the Ontario Liberals’ annual general meeting Sept. 12-14 in Toronto, Erskine-Smith wrote an 1,177-word email blast urging “change in our party.”
“Of course I have an interest,” acknowledged the Beaches-East York MP, who was runner-up in the provincial leadership in 2023 and then briefly served as federal housing minister before being demoted by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
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Erskine-Smith criticized Crombie and her team for “trying to socialize the idea that an untenable 51 per cent mandate is an acceptable result” at the September review, insisting “two-thirds support should be the minimum expectation.”
Sources told the Star that some Liberals have privately complained to Carney’s office about the MP’s intervention Friday.
But given Erskine-Smith’s public grumbling that he felt “disrespected” when the prime minister removed him from cabinet, it’s unlikely any such appeal would have much effect.
Liberal MPPs, meanwhile, took to social media to defend Crombie with some choice words for the backbencher.
“The Ontario Liberal leadership isn’t a backup plan or safety net. Building for the future takes hard work and someone who is going to stick it out,” said MPP Stephen Blais (Orleans).
That’s a reference to Erskine-Smith doing little to help the Grits after losing the leadership contest, including in the Feb. 27 snap election won by Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives with 43 per cent of the popular vote.
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The MP insisted he “was happy to work for a winning campaign in support of local MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon, an energetic force in community engagement” in February.
MPP Stephanie Smyth (St. Paul’s), one of the five newly elected Liberals, praised Crombie for returning the party to official status in the legislature, taking 30 per cent of the vote and improving fundraising.
“Let’s not go backwards,” said Smyth.
Still, the Liberals’ inefficient vote led to just 14 seats in the 124-member legislature compared to 80 for the PCs. The NDP held 27 seats with just 18.5 per cent of the vote. Mike Schreiner’s Greens won two ridings and Independent Bobbi Ann Brady was re-elected.
Crombie failed to win a seat, losing Mississauga East-Cooksville to Tory Silvia Gualtieri, a setback for a three-term Mississauga mayor. She has said she will contest a byelection when a viable riding opens up.
Rookie MPP Rob Cerjanec (Ajax) said he was “tired of this crap” from Erskine-Smith and other insurgents.
“The last campaign had its issues and the seat result wasn’t what we wanted but there were also some successes. I’ve had good conversations with Bonnie Crombie about what went wrong and what we need to do to win,” said Cerjanec.
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“She agrees we need to do things differently. Another leadership race isn’t going to help us build the party.”
Liberal House Leader John Fraser emphasized he “will be supporting Bonnie at the AGM” and implored other Grits to do so.
“Our cause is a collective one, not one of personal ambition,” said Fraser in a veiled shot at Erskine-Smith.
MPP Andrea Hazell (Scarborough-Guildwood) noted she has “always been passionate about women in leadership and I support Bonnie Crombie in bringing Ontario back on track.”
Newly elected MPP Jonathan Tsao (Don Valley North) praised the leader for putting “our party first.”
“While others chase headlines, she’s laser-focused on one thing: standing up for the people of Ontario and defeating Doug Ford and the PCs next election,” said Tsao.
MPP Lucille Collard (Ottawa-Vanier) said although she supported third-place finisher Yasir Naqvi in 2023, Crombie “has shown skill in growing our party’s appeal and presenting serious policy.”
“You may not agree with her on everything, and that’s fine. The OLP has momentum and the last thing we need is another leadership race,” said Collard.
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