Ontario Liberal MPP from Etobicoke enters leadership race

MPP Lee Fairclough attends Question Period at Queen’s Park in Toronto, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor

TORONTO — Ontario Liberal legislator Lee Fairclough has entered the party's leadership race.

The rookie member of provincial parliament pried away one of three seats from the Progressive Conservatives in Etobicoke, where Premier Doug Ford lives, in the 2025 snap election.

Fairclough said she would focus on affordability, improving health care and education.

"Doug Ford has stopped listening," she said in a YouTube video. "The basics: health care, education, good jobs – they've all been pushed aside and that has to change."

The former member of Canada's national women's rugby team has pledged to tackle health-care wait times, increase accessibility for mental health and addiction care and decrease class sizes in schools should she become premier.

Fairclough also promised to repeal the Ford government's recently passed law that shields the premier, ministers and their offices from freedom-of-information laws.

"I didn't step into politics to watch from the sidelines," she said. "I stepped forward to fix what's broken because I believe we can build an Ontario that works for everyone."

Fairclough began her career as a radiation therapist and later took on a leadership role at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health before becoming president of St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, Ont., where she played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fairclough has the support of two caucus members, Ted Hsu, who represents Kingston and the Islands, and Lucille Collard from the riding of Ottawa-Vanier, as well as former deputy premier Deb Matthews.

Former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie resigned earlier this year after receiving underwhelming support in her leadership review following Ford's easy election win.

Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith is interested in running for the party's leadership, as is Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec, former federal cabinet minister Navdeep Bains, and housing advocate Eric Lombardi, while former political staffer Dylan Marando is the only other candidate to officially enter the race.

The next Liberal leader will be elected in November.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2026.

Liam Casey, The Canadian Press