Voting is currently taking place at the Ontario Liberal Party convention in Toronto, where 2,300 delegates will have a say in the future of Bonnie Crombie as the leader. A recent poll by Mainstreet Research revealed that 36% of Liberals are in favor of a leadership change, with 17% considering Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith as a potential replacement.
Crombie, addressing concerns about change, mentioned that while acknowledging previous missteps during the last provincial election, she understands the importance of member preferences. A party report released earlier highlighted that the campaign’s focus on health care did not resonate with voters, who were more concerned about affordability. It also noted a lack of differentiation between the Liberals, NDP, and Progressive Conservatives, and insufficient effort to define Doug Ford.
Despite facing challenges, the party managed to regain official party status after seven years, winning 14 seats and securing 30% of the popular vote. However, Crombie, who did not win her own riding, must receive at least 50% + 1 support as per the Liberal constitution to continue as leader. Erskine-Smith and a group called The New Leaf Liberals are calling for her resignation if she falls short of 66% support.
While Crombie remains confident about the weekend’s outcome, Noah Parker from The New Leaf group emphasized the importance of strong party support for the leader. The results of the leadership vote are expected to be revealed on Sunday after Crombie addresses the delegates on Saturday.