Bonnie Crombie to resign as Ontario Liberal leader after weak show of support

Crombie initially said she planned to stay on as leader, adding that a leadership race right now would do more harm than good for the party.

The Ontario Liberals will look to hold their third leadership race since 2020, following a resignation announcement by Bonnie Crombie, who received a weak show of support at the party’s annual general meeting.

Crombie, who won the party’s last leadership race in late 2023, said in a statement that she believes it is the best decision for the party to facilitate an orderly transition toward a leadership vote and she plans to resign upon the selection of a new leader.

“I looked out at our audience today and thought about all the conversations I’ve had over the last few days…conversations with Ontario Liberals who see that the future of this province is bright and who are ready to make sure it happens with us in the driver’s seat,” she wrote in a statement.

“I want to do everything I can to ensure that opportunity is not impeded by any one person. This is more important than ego. This is more important than ambition. This is about the very thing that unites us all.”

Delegates at AGM voted on whether to hold a new leadership race and 57 per cent voted no.

It was more than the hair over the 50 per cent required by the Ontario Liberal constitution for Crombie to stay on as leader, but some party members had been calling for her to step down if she received less than 66 per cent.

Crombie initially said she planned to stay on as leader, adding that a leadership race right now would do more harm than good for the party. However, just a few hours later, she reversed course.