Ford goes national, Grits go nuclear
Rumours abound
ABOVE THE FOLD
Today’s edition is all about cottage country photo-ops and Liberal inbox drama. The Premiers wrapped their Muskoka retreat with DOUG FORD making federal immigration jabs — but the real action is in the inbox of card-carrying Grits, where BONNIE CROMBIE and NATE ERSKINE-SMITH are duking it out over delegate sign-ups ahead of September’s leadership review. Let’s dig in.
INBOX WARS — With the deadline looming to sign up as a delegate for September’s AGM and get a vote on the leadership review, tensions inside the Liberal party are boiling over.
Erskine-Smith is still very much circling Crombie’s job, and his latest email blast is giving some Grits heartburn over the optics of a party eating itself. Crombie’s camp, meanwhile, is sounding the alarm with more direct appeals for delegate support — a shift in tone that suggests she’s not taking anything for granted. And with names like JEFF LEHMAN (scooped here) being floated as a Plan B for the centrist wing of the party, all sides seem fully aware of the stakes.
The NES missive: “Are you happy with the direction of the Ontario Liberal Party right now?” That not-so-subtle subject line says all you need to know about the tone.
The gist: Team Nate notes the party’s in third place, outgunned by the NDP on fundraising and the Greens on comms. He slams Crombie for failing to win her “hand-picked” seat (despite deploying party resources there on E-Day)
Erskine-Smith wants delegates to show up and show Crombie the door if she can’t clear the 66-per-cent bar in September. He’s even hosting a webinar this afternoon to let card-carrying members know how to register. He also praised the federal election as a model, saying “a quick competitive leadership race offers a health opportunity for renewal.”
Between the lines: This isn’t just shade — it’s an open challenge. Erskine-Smith is daring Crombie to defend her turf, while winking at party members who might be pining for someone with a clearer path to Queen’s Park (ahem, Jeff Lehman).
Crombie claps back: If Erskine-Smith’s email blast was a dare, Crombie seems to be taking it.
The gist: Crombie’s camp is explicitly calling on members to register as delegates to back her unequivocally. The email points to unanimous support she’s received from the party executive, plus a rally of MPPs last week (even KATHLEEN WYNNE has entered the chat), as proof that she still has momentum. The vibe is all about unity, rebuilding and beating Ford — punctuated with heavy doses of “we’re listening” and “we have the people now.” Obligatory hashtag: #BuildWithBonnie.
Between the lines: This isn’t your routine post-election AGM — it’s a full-on test of Crombie’s survival instincts and a mobilization alert for her supporters. Team Bonnie is treating the AGM like a mini leadership contest, because they know the pressure is getting real.
That “run up the score” line? Translation: 51 per cent won’t cut it anymore. Crombie needs to crush the review to freeze out challengers and quiet the growing whisper network. The email leans hard on support from party brass and MPPs — a subtle flex aimed at Erskine-Smith’s more outsider, renegade energy. But insiders are also buzzing about names like Lehman and even ex-federal minister NAVDEEP BAINS as potential replacements.
Now what? The deadline for delegates is tomorrow, after that, vacant positions (most likely in ridings where the Liberals have less of a presence, such as in the North and rural districts) will be backfilled by non-local Liberals.
Meanwhile in Muskoka…
FORD FLEXES ON FEDS — Ontario’s Premier didn’t just wrap up his turn as chair of the Council of the Federation this week — he all but kicked off a soft federal audition, fuelling evergreen rumours that he’s eyeing the PM’s seat.