Is Karina Gould going to become a candidate for the Provincial Liberal leadership?

By Pepper Parr

September 23^rd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

OPINION

The Provincial Liberals will be holding a convention to select a new leader.

With Bonnie Crombie no longer leading the provincial Liberal party there is public interest in who the next leader will be.

A number of names have been mentioned, including  Jeff Lehman, former Mayor of Barrie, who announced this week that he would not be in the race.

Lehman was a centrist who had been organizing a bid to replace Crombie, but instead, he’s focusing on his daughter’s health.

Gould was a political junkie at the age of 14 and went on to win her first election in 2015. An astute politician, her leadership aspirations have always been part of the plan.

Lehman’s exit leaves a gap in the already-crowded leadership race, which includes names like NATE ERSKINE-SMITH, YVAN BAKER, NAVDEEP BAINS, KARINA GOULD, MARCO MENDOCINO, JOSH MATLOW, ANDREW BOOZARY, ROB CERJANEC, TED HSU, STEPHANIE BOWMAN and more.

Word on the street is that some high-profile organizers wasted no time in looking for another candidate to support, while some potential contenders are hoping to scoop them up.

There has been no word from Karina Gould, who is the MP for Burlington.  Once a federal Cabinet Minister and also once a leadership candidate for the federal Liberals (Mark Carney won that race), there is room for a move.

Gould has made it clear she sees leadership as part of her future.  Would running for the Burlington seat in the Legislature – (defeating Natalie Pierre wouldn’t be a problem) be a first step?.

Gould defeated Mike Wallace in 2015 and has held the seat ever since.

Could she defeat Doug Ford and become the Premier?

Both would be pluses for the province.

Does Gould take the risk – serve as the Premier for two terms and then take a run for the federal Liberal leadership?

She is still a very young woman.  Could she do it?  Will she do it?

All we know at this point is – Gould, unlike Lehman, hasn’t said she would not.