Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, seen as an Ontario leadership hopeful, says he may run in provincial byelection
In a gambit that would jolt the nascent Ontario Liberal leadership race, one of the front-running candidates might contest the upcoming Scarborough-Guildwood provincial byelection.Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said Wednesday that he’s “thinking about” putting his name forward after veteran Grit MPP Mitzie Hunter steps down to run in the June 26 Toronto mayoralty election.Erskine-Smith has been the federal representative in Beaches-East York, which is one riding west of Scarborough-Guildwood, since 2015.Hunter said she would resign the seat she has held for a decade before Toronto’s mayoral nomination period ends May 12.“It’s still a work in progress, I’m still doing the important work after 10 years — doing the transition and making sure that my office is in good shape and my constituents are in good shape,” she said in an interview after asking her final question in the Ontario legislature.Premier Doug Ford, who has known Hunter since before she was in elected politics, thanked her for her service in the legislature before chiding the previous Liberal government for not getting the Scarborough subway built.“They were 15 years in power, they had no interest in supporting the people of Scarborough. They did absolutely nothing. It took this government to actually get the Scarborough line going,” the premier said.Ford has long prized Hunter’s Scarborough riding. Speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations, sources told the Star he would consider calling snap by-elections there and in newly vacated Kanata-Carleton to catch the Liberals off-guard.By law, Ford has six months from Hunter’s resignation to call the vote, meaning it could come as late as November.In 2018, Ford’s Progressive Conservatives lost the riding by just 74 votes. Last June, however, Hunter won by 4,282 votes.“We brought back all of our voters … who made other choices in 2018, and that really is a testament to my team and how hard we worked,” Hunter said, predicting a “hotly contested” Liberal nomination.“I do know that it is a strong Liberal riding and I expect it to stay that way.”Local Toronto public school board trustee Zakir Patel has been mentioned as a possible successor to Hunter.Even if Erskine-Smith opts to run in Scarborough-Guildwood, his potential leadership rival Yasir Naqvi, the Liberal MP for Ottawa Centre, said he has no plans to contest nearby Kanata-Carleton, which was held by Tory Merrilee Fullerton until her recent resignation.“I won’t be running in Kanata-Carleton. My focus right now is on my constituents in Ottawa Centre and to the work I’m doing to help rebuild the (Ontario Liberal Party),” said Naqvi, a former provincial cabinet minister and party president, who is viewed as a strong contender for the Grit crown.Also considering entering the leadership race are rookie MPPs Stephanie Bowman (Don Valley West), Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands) and Adil Shamji (Don Valley East).Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, a former Liberal MP, is also seen as a potential candidate.Ontario Liberal president Kathryn McGarry said last month the party needs time to determine when to hold a leadership vote and set rules, such as entry fees.Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
In a gambit that would jolt the nascent Ontario Liberal leadership race, one of the front-running candidates might contest the upcoming Scarborough-Guildwood provincial byelection.
Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said Wednesday that he’s “thinking about” putting his name forward after veteran Grit MPP Mitzie Hunter steps down to run in the June 26 Toronto mayoralty election.
Erskine-Smith has been the federal representative in Beaches-East York, which is one riding west of Scarborough-Guildwood, since 2015.
Hunter said she would resign the seat she has held for a decade before Toronto’s mayoral nomination period ends May 12.
“It’s still a work in progress, I’m still doing the important work after 10 years — doing the transition and making sure that my office is in good shape and my constituents are in good shape,” she said in an interview after asking her final question in the Ontario legislature.
Premier Doug Ford, who has known Hunter since before she was in elected politics, thanked her for her service in the legislature before chiding the previous Liberal government for not getting the Scarborough subway built.
“They were 15 years in power, they had no interest in supporting the people of Scarborough. They did absolutely nothing. It took this government to actually get the Scarborough line going,” the premier said.
Ford has long prized Hunter’s Scarborough riding. Speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations, sources told the Star he would consider calling snap by-elections there and in newly vacated Kanata-Carleton to catch the Liberals off-guard.
By law, Ford has six months from Hunter’s resignation to call the vote, meaning it could come as late as November.
In 2018, Ford’s Progressive Conservatives lost the riding by just 74 votes. Last June, however, Hunter won by 4,282 votes.
“We brought back all of our voters … who made other choices in 2018, and that really is a testament to my team and how hard we worked,” Hunter said, predicting a “hotly contested” Liberal nomination.
“I do know that it is a strong Liberal riding and I expect it to stay that way.”
Local Toronto public school board trustee Zakir Patel has been mentioned as a possible successor to Hunter.
Even if Erskine-Smith opts to run in Scarborough-Guildwood, his potential leadership rival Yasir Naqvi, the Liberal MP for Ottawa Centre, said he has no plans to contest nearby Kanata-Carleton, which was held by Tory Merrilee Fullerton until her recent resignation.
“I won’t be running in Kanata-Carleton. My focus right now is on my constituents in Ottawa Centre and to the work I’m doing to help rebuild the (Ontario Liberal Party),” said Naqvi, a former provincial cabinet minister and party president, who is viewed as a strong contender for the Grit crown.
Also considering entering the leadership race are rookie MPPs Stephanie Bowman (Don Valley West), Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands) and Adil Shamji (Don Valley East).
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, a former Liberal MP, is also seen as a potential candidate.
Ontario Liberal president Kathryn McGarry said last month the party needs time to determine when to hold a leadership vote and set rules, such as entry fees.
Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie
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