Ontario Liberal leadership hopefuls talk taxes, affordability and Doug Ford in final debate

From left, Ontario Liberal Party leadership candidates Lee Fairclough, Eric Lombardi, Navdeep Bains, Stephanie Bowman, and Dylan Marando prior to the Ontario Liberal leadership debate in Brampton, Ont, on Monday, August 10, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

TORONTO — Ontario Liberal leadership hopefuls are pitching themselves as the antidote to Premier Doug Ford in the final debate before voting begins with little disagreement between them, though several took different tacks on taxes.

Navdeep Bains, Stephanie Bowman, Lee Fairclough and Dylan Marando say they are serious politicians at a serious time in an effort to contrast with Ford’s folksy yet bombastic demeanour.

The four agreed on much of the issues TVO Today Live host Steve Paikin threw at them, from economic and health-care reforms to rebuilding the third-place Liberal party from the ground up.

But they differed on whether they would raise taxes.

Fairclough has committed to tax reforms including how best to increase the tax base for municipalities while Marando would do away with personal income taxes for young workers earning less than $50,000, but mused about taxing big businesses more.

Both Bowman and Bains say they would not raise taxes given the province is in an affordability crisis and has been for years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2026.

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press