By Pepper Parr
November 30th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The ballots have been cast – they weren’t dropped into a ballot box – but they were cast and they have been ranked and on Saturday the Liberal Party of Ontario will announce who the next leader of the party will be.
Nate Erskine Smith, the federal member for Beaches- East York.
Ted Shu, currently a member of the provincial legislature (MPP) representing Kingston and the Islands.
Running for the leadership are Bonnie Crombie, currently Mayor of Mississauga, Ted Shu, currently a member of the provincial legislature (MPP) representing Kingston and the Islands, Nate Erskine Smith, the federal member for Beaches- East York, and Yasir Naqvi who has served is as the MPP and then the MP for Ottawa Centre
Yasir Naqvi was a member of the Wynn government that was defeated by Doug Ford in YEAR.
The vote for the leadership this time around is being done on a ranked ballot basis – every member of the Ontario Liberal Party (there are more than 100,000 registered to vote0 which they did on Saturday, November 25, 2023 and Sunday, November 26, 2023.
Each member of the Ontario Liberal Party named their first choice on the ballot. When those first choices are counted the person with the most votes is the leader, providing they have 50% of the votes.
If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is taken off the second count and the ballots are counted again, this time they count the second choice on each ballot.
It’s complex, given the way it is set up there shouldn’t be more than two counts.
Bonnie Crombie walking to the provincial Liberal convention looked more like a triumphal march; she was seen as the leader from the get go.
Bonnie Crombie appears to be the leader – she was certainly a strong choice for many until she suggested that some of the Greenbelt land could be converted and used for housing. She wasn’t wrong but at the time it was not what the public wanted to hear – she began to be described is as Doug Ford Lite – not where you want to be in a race for the Liberal leadership.
Nate Erskine Smith looked good, spoke about values and the need to build relationships. He was an very active federal MP – but was never seen is as a cabinet choice by the people advising Justin Trudeau. Nate didn’t seem to be able to generate the kind of buzz that was needed to win the leadership contest.
Yasir Naqvi has served is as the MPP and then the MP for Ottawa Centre. He was a member of the Wynn government that was defeated by Doug Ford in 2018.
Within the last three weeks he joined forces with Yasir Naqvi asking their followers to make the other their second choice on the ballot – hoping this way to blunt the lead that most people believe Crombie had going for her.
The decision was described by many is as a desperate move – which it could well have been. But they felt they had to do something.
The surprise to many is Ted Shu – he came across is as a bit of a bumbler – which he certainly isn’t.
There is something quiet but very steady about the man. He isn’t pushy but he is very enthusiastic. I’m not sure he was really listened to.
If it is to be Crombie – she will certainly go after Doug Ford – something he isn’t looking forward to and something he doesn’t need at this point.
The RCMP are investigating the deals that were made under Steve Clark who seemed to have forgotten just what a Cabinet Minister is supposed to do. Doug Ford wasn’t much at understanding what Cabinet is supposed to do.
Assuming Bonnie is chosen as the leader – what is the first thing she will do?
I think she should run for a seat in the Legislature and be in the Premier’s face every day.
Right now Marit Stiles, the NDP leader of the opposition is doing all the talking – Crombie has to fill that space.
She has a profile and she is well known across the province. She has raised a tonne of money and would appear to have support in most ridings.
It is not unusual for a leadership winner to arrange for a sitting member of the party to resign which would will result in a by-election which she should win.
The big question about Bonnie Crombie is – will she be there to do the job for two terms – eight years ?
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
Ontario voters, are the only people who have the ability to elect, then get rid of Premiers. As a reminder here are a few Premiers the electorate dumped, Rae, Harris, Wynne.
If you don’t like Ford, don’t vote for him, same goes for Trudeau. Also applies to the next time you cast a vote to elect your next mayor and ward councillor.
The part between elections is where “WE” let incumbents know they need to pull up their socks.
One last thing the new Liberal leader will have to (1) Out-perform Marit Styles and (2) Get rid of their minivan party status.