"Experts say if leadership candidate Nate Erskine-Smith falls short in his bid to win the nomination on Saturday, his push to capture the party's top job could be over before it officially starts. Not even winning the nomination, I think that will stick to him and make it harder for him to convince unconvinced Liberals that they should support him, said McMaster University political science professor Peter Graefe. In a way, there will have been a bit of a vote of non-confidence in him by the party members in Scarborough Southwest."
"Erskine-Smith is running for the nomination as part of his second bid to become Ontario Liberal leader. He finished a strong second to former leader Bonnie Crombie in the 2023 race and was a vocal critic of her ahead of the review that led to her resignation last September. Both Crombie and previous Liberal leader Steven Del Duca did not have seats in the legislature after winning the job and failed to win them in subsequent elections. Critics have said their inability to face-off directly with Premier Doug Ford in the legislature hindered their effectiveness in opposition."
"Erskine-Smith's path to address that concern has been met with pushback during the nomination race. Other candidates questioned if he has sufficient links to the community, despite him representing the neighbouring riding of Beaches-East York and growing up close by. Former Liberal cabinet minister John Milloy said Erskine-Smith is taking a gamble by running in the nomination race."
Nate Erskine-Smith seeks the Liberal nomination in Scarborough Southwest, with potential consequences for his attempt to become Ontario Liberal leader. Experts say that if he fails to win the nomination, his leadership campaign could end early because party members would have effectively expressed non-confidence. The nomination fight occurs alongside a leadership race context, where Erskine-Smith is running for the nomination as part of a second bid for the party’s top job. He previously finished second to Bonnie Crombie in 2023 and criticized her during the period leading to her resignation. Concerns about past leaders lacking legislative seats and failing to challenge Premier Doug Ford directly shape expectations for the next leader. Some candidates question whether Erskine-Smith has strong community ties despite his nearby background and representation of a neighboring riding.
#ontario-liberal-party #leadership-race #political-nominations #legislative-representation #scarborough-southwest
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