Crombie vows to fight on in face of Ont. Liberal leadership challenge
Crombie faces a mandatory leadership review at the party's annual general meeting and, under the organization's constitution, needs over 50 per cent support to stay on. But a group of Liberals has emerged calling for new leadership, a sentiment echoed by the candidate who finished second in the 2023 race she won.
Crombie said she has spent the last few months touring the province, speaking with riding association presidents, candidates and party members. She wants to stay on as leader and intends to fight, she said in an interview with CBC News.
"Certainly, the membership thought I was the right person in December of 2023," she said of her victory. "I think they still believe so today and I'm here to rebuild trust and to revitalize our party."
Crombie won the Liberal leadership in a closer than expected third ballot vote at a party convention a year and a half ago. She edged out federal MP and former cabinet minister Nathaniel Erksine-Smith with 53 per cent of delegate points to his 47 per cent.
But much has changed since her victory.
WATCH | Crombie reacts to Ontario election loss:
Crombie reacts to Ontario election loss
5 months ago
Party members raise questions after 3rd place finish in seat count
Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives called a snap election earlier this year and won a third-straight majority government. Crombie's Liberals came second in the popular vote, winning nearly 30 per cent support.
That translated to winning 14 seats and helped the party secure official party status — along with millions in resources — for the first time since 2018.
But the Liberals remain the third place party in the legislature despite their improved vote share. Crombie failed to win her own seat in Mississauga where she once served as mayor, leaving her outside of the house and its debate.
"Obviously, we wanted to win and we didn't," she said. "And I will say to you that that's very humbling."
The results have given rise to criticism from some within the party.
A group dubbed the New Leaf Liberals says Crombie's team was caught flat-footed by the snap vote, despite Ford musing about calling the election since last summer. As a result, it didn't have candidates in place fast enough to run competitive campaigns in many ridings.
The group also says Crombie's team didn't pivot away from its health-care-themed platform when it became clear the election was focused on Trump, tariffs and the economy.
Despite the Liberal Party constitution rules, Nathaniel Arfin, one of the group's founders, said the threshold should be higher for Crombie to stay on. In the group's view, she needs a minimum 66 per cent vote in the review to remain leader.
"We are strictly calling for the current leadership to recognize that they have failed us and that it's time for us to move forward with change so that we can build a stronger Ontario Liberal Party," he said.
And while Arfin said he has worked for Nate Erskine-Smith in the past, the group is not affiliated with the federal MP or other possible candidates.
Erksine-Smith calls for change at the top of Ontario Liberal Party
Erksine-Smith also said he is not affiliated with the group and has not decided if he will run if Crombie is forced out.
"This isn't about me, it's about what's best for the party," he said in an interview with CBC News.
He agreed a two-thirds majority of voting party members should be required if Crombie wants to stay on.
"If you can't secure 66 per cent of your members, I mean, good luck in a general election," he said.
Erskine-Smith said he's concerned that the registration fees for the event, as well as the cost to travel and attend the meeting in Toronto, will discourage many Liberals. He issued an open letter earlier this month calling on delegates to dump Crombie.
"A new leadership race would attract talent, it would attract contributions, it would attract public attention, and that's exactly what we need if we're going to renew this party in a serious way," he said.
Crombie said she has heard the criticisms from the group and from other members of the party as she toured the province this summer. She's making changes to address those, including opening candidate nominations in January 2026 for the next provincial election, providing more support to rural and northern ridings, and holding more policy conventions.
"Many of the requests that this new organization has made, we have responded to," she said. "And if they want reform and change, I want them to know that I want it too."
Crombie also said she thinks there are members of the party stoking discontent for their own gain.
"There are people who have put their own ambitions ahead of the party," she said. "I think that's what we're seeing here."
Despite some opposition, Crombie continues to have support. The Ontario Liberal Party executive endorsed Crombie's continued leadership after the election.
And since Erskine-Smith published his open letter, most of the party caucus and former premier Kathleen Wynne have signalled their support for Crombie on social media.
Former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister John Milloy said Erskine-Smith's showing in the 2023 race was impressive. However, the fact that he didn't run for the provincial Liberals in the last election, opting instead to run again federally, may lead some members to question his commitment to the Ontario party, he said.
"Nate Erskine-Smith is trying to position himself as the heir apparent," Milloy said. "He's got a long way to go with that."
"I don't think (the party has) the luxury of having some knock them down, drag them out, internal battle that goes on for years," added Milloy, who is now the director of the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College.
Crombie has good reason to be worried about the challenge, said McMaster University political science professor Peter Graefe. Winning the review vote by a healthy margin is essential and that could mean capturing as much 75 per cent.
The in-fighting among the Liberals is a symptom of larger problems with the party still struggling to find its identity after a brutal 2018 loss, Graefe said.
"The political base of parties is often very impatient and expect magic from leaders, when really they're the ones who have to make the magic happen through organization," he said.
The Ontario Liberal Annual General meeting takes place from Sept. 12 to 14.
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