Bonnie Crombie Elected as New Ontario Liberal Party Leader

Incoming Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie speaks to party members after winning the Ontario Liberal leadership election, in Toronto on Dec. 2, 2023. The Canadian Press/Chris Young

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie was elected as the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party on Dec. 2.

“Thank you for believing in what we are going to build together. Thank you for taking a spark and turning it into a big, red flame here today,” Ms. Crombie said in her victory speech.

“There is no question, being an Ontario Liberal is back, and that is thanks to each and every one of you.”

Ms. Crombie, whose victory came after three rounds of voting, received 53.4 percent of the votes, defeating federal Liberal MPs Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Yasir Naqvi and Ontario Liberal MPP Ted Hsu.

Ms. Crombie, who currently doesn’t have a seat in the Ontario legislature, has said she may consider running in the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex byelection. The riding used to be represented by Progressive Conservative MPP and former labour minister Monte McNaughton who resigned as an MPP in October.

Ms. Crombie also said she would likely step down as mayor of Mississauga in the new year.

Following Ms. Crombie’s victory, her Liberal Party, which in recent elections has been falling behind the governing PCs and the official opposition Ontario NDP, took aim at the PCs for the upcoming 2026 provincial election.

“In 2026, we’ll be ready to take her progressive and compassionate vision for Ontario to voters and kick Doug Ford and his insiders out,” the Ontario Liberal Party said on X.

The PCs published their own post taking aim at the new Liberal leader, saying she'll drive up taxes and make the housing situation worse.

“Bonnie Crombie and the Ontario Liberals just don’t get it. They'll cost you,” the Ontario PC Party said on X.

The Ontario NDP also took aim at Ms. Crombie, questioning on social media if she is “really any different from Doug Ford?”

“Bonnie Crombie’s leadership campaign was supported by real estate speculators, developers, and well-connected insiders — much like Doug Ford’s,” the Ontario NDP said.