Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has decided to run for the Ontario Liberal’s top post and formally announce her intentions on Wednesday evening.
Crombie told the crowd at Metalworks Studio in Mississauga, “Our healthcare is in crisis. Our education system is being shortchanged. Our environment is fragile. And life in Ontario is becoming more unaffordable.”
She took a shot at Doug Ford saying that his government, “is more interested in helping their friends than in helping you.”
Crombie said that she wants to, “renew, rebuild, and re-energize the Ontario Liberal Party by creating a big tent 21st century political party.”
According to Elections Ontario, Crombie registered as a Ontario Liberal Leadership contestant on Tuesday, June 13.
Her current opponents are Beaches-East York MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Ottawa MP Yasir Naqvi and Kingston MPP Ted Hsu. Don Valley East MPP Adil Shamji who is also expected to run, has not yet announced his intentions.
The Mississauga mayor had said that she was exploring the possibility of a career in provincial politics a few weeks ago. The news surprised some as Crombie initially claimed to be focused solely on her city but then set up a campaign-style website a short while after the province announced Mississauga would become independent.
While some see it as a selfish political move, others hold Crombie in high regard and are hopeful she will bring positive changes in Ontario.
Meanwhile Premier Doug Ford has said that Crombie’s announcement is a slap in the face to Mississauga residents. He believes her decision to stay on as mayor while campaigning for Ontario Liberal leadership will amount to neglecting her current job.
However the Ontario Liberals see Crombie as being most likely to give Doug Ford a run for his money in next provincial election.
The party fared miserably in the last two provincial elections securing just seven seats in 2018 (losing party status) and eight seats in 2022. But Crombie is not giving up.
“Liberals have been knocked down before, but we dusted ourselves off, and got back into the fight. And I’m ready to fight! Together we can stop Ford and bring honest, ethical, and dedicated government back to the people of this province,” Crombie said.
The person who will lead the Liberal bid for Queen’s Park in 2026 will be decided on November 26.
