Bonnie Crombie has announced she will resign as Ontario Liberal leader following a disappointing show of support in a leadership review at the party’s annual general meeting.
Delegates voted 57 per cent against triggering a leadership contest — just enough to meet the constitutional threshold to keep Crombie in place, but far short of the two-thirds backing many within the party argued she needed to solidify her leadership.
In a statement released hours after the results, Crombie said she had reflected on the outcome and decided that an orderly transition was in the best interest of the party. She will remain in place until a new leader is chosen.
The move marks a sharp turnaround from earlier in the day, when Crombie said she planned to stay on, warning that a new leadership race would do more harm than good at a time when the party is trying to rebuild.
This AGM was the first since the February provincial election, where Liberals increased their seat count from nine to 14 and regained official party status but still failed to win Official Opposition. Crombie herself failed to capture a seat in the legislature, leaving some members questioning her ability to lead the party into the next election.