Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith plans to run for Ontario Liberal leader

Member of Parliament for Beaches—East York Nathaniel Erskine-Smith speaks to reporters during the Liberal summer caucus retreat in St. Andrews, N.B. on Monday, September 12, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith says he plans to run to become Ontario’s next Liberal Party leader and hopes to secure his spot in the caucus by winning the upcoming byelection in Scarborough Southwest.

In a post shared online, the longtime Beaches-East York MP said he’ll be running to fill the seat that was vacated on Tuesday by NDP MPP Doly Begum in the neighbouring Scarborough Southwest riding.

On Tuesday morning, Begum announced her intention to run federally for the Liberals in Scarborough Southwest following the departure of former Liberal MP Bill Blair, who has accepted a post as Canada’s next U.K. high commissioner.

“The goal is to make the biggest difference we can when we have an opportunity to serve,” Erskine-Smith wrote in his note titled "When it comes to Ontario, I’m all in."

“Doly Begum has been a strong progressive representative, she’s going to make a great Liberal MP for our east end community, and I have no doubt that she’ll make a bigger difference as a member of our federal team.”

Erskine-Smith says he’ll be an ‘active’ MP in meantime

The Toronto MP went on to say that he’ll continue to support Prime Minister Mark Carney and his team, and would remain an “active” member of the federal caucus in the meantime.

Erskine-Smith added that he has communicated this intention to interim leader John Fraser.

“At the same time, I know that the biggest difference I can make is rebuilding our provincial Liberal party to deliver for Ontarians. 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,” he said.

“We deserve better than this tired, incompetent, and self-dealing Conservative government. We deserve smart, fair, and honest leadership here in Ontario.”

Former Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie officially resigned from her role on Jan. 14.

Erskine-Smith previously ran for the Ontario Liberal leadership job in 2023, but lost to Crombie.