Nathaniel Erskine-Smith to seek Ontario Liberal leadership

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The dominos continue to fall in the Scarborough Southwest riding with Beaches–East York MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith announcing he plans to run there in a provincial byelection, while also expressing his renewed interest in becoming the next Ontario Liberal leader.

The 41-year-old former housing minister declared his intentions to depart the federal Liberals on Tuesday, joining a game of political musical chairs that was started when Scarborough Southwest Liberal MP Bill Blair resigned Monday to become Canada’s next high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

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With Begum’s seat now up for grabs, Erskine-Smith has decided to go “all in” with the Ontario Liberals after representing Beaches–East York at the federal level since 2015.

“I know that the biggest difference I can make is rebuilding our provincial Liberal party to deliver for Ontario,” said Erskine-Smith, who lost to Bonnie Crombie in the 2023 Ontario Liberal leadership race while still serving as an MP.

“We’ve been working hard to build a provincial team that’s ready to run, win and govern together and the rules for the leadership race will be announced soon.”

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Despite the announcement, Erskine-Smith said he continues to support Prime Minister Mark Carney and plans to be an “active member of our federal Liberal caucus in the meantime.”

Federal and provincial byelection dates have yet to be announced for the Scarborough South riding, but the Ontario Liberal Party is expected to reveal the details of its leadership race next Monday after Crombie officially stepped down as leader in mid-January.

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