Former Liberal MP and cabinet minister Nate Erskine-Smith is throwing his hat in the ring to become a member of Toronto city council. The lawyer turned politician submitted his paperwork at city hall Wednesday morning to run as a candidate for the Beaches-East York council seat. Elected federally in 2015 to the same riding, the 42-year-old served briefly as housing minister before he was dropped from cabinet by Prime Minister Mark Carney in May. Erskine-Smith pivoted to a career in provincial politics, vying to represent the riding of Scarborough Southwest as the Liberal candidate in an upcoming byelection. He lost that nomination race and challenged the result. The appeal was dismissed. He announced he would resign his seat in the House of Commons in June. There is no incumbent running in the Ward 19 race as Coun. Brad Bradford campaigns for the city’s top job. Also competing for the council seat are CTV News journalist Natalie Johnson, city worker James Dann, as well as eight other candidates. Johnson is on leave from her position with CTV News. Torontonians will head to the polls on Oct. 26. Council seat a ‘backup plan’ for Erskine-Smith, Johnson charges In a video posted on social media Tuesday before Erskine-Smith officially submitted his paperwork, Johnson called his municipal political ambitions a “backup plan.” “Nate has given years of respected public service at the federal level, but this is about city hall and serving the community between Coxwell and Vic Park at the local level, not as a stepping stone for higher political office,” she said. Johnson went on to say that representing Beaches-East York on Toronto City Council is her “first choice, not a last resort.” “It’s time for fresh voices. Let’s choose change together, because city hall is not a backup plan,” she said.
