TORONTO — Bonnie Crombie has resigned as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, effective immediately, months after signalling she would step aside following a lukewarm leadership review last fall.
Crombie had previously said she would remain in the role until a successor was selected, but announced Wednesday that she has decided to leave earlier than planned.
“As we begin a new year, I believe this is the right moment for me and for the party to move forward,” Crombie said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of the work we have done together to rebuild and renew our party.”
The former mayor of Mississauga announced in September that she would step down after receiving 57 per cent support in a leadership vote at the party’s annual general meeting — a result widely viewed as underwhelming.
Party president Kathryn McGarry credited Crombie with helping stabilize and rebuild the party during a challenging period.
“Bonnie stepped forward at a critical moment and played an important role in rebuilding our party, growing our movement and positioning us for the future,” McGarry said, adding that an interim leader will be named shortly. A date for the next leadership contest has not yet been set, but the party says details will be announced soon.
Leadership race taking shape
Crombie’s departure is expected to accelerate decision-making among potential leadership contenders. Several Liberals have already indicated they are considering bids.
Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who finished second to Crombie in the 2023 leadership race, has said he is assembling a team for a possible run. Ontario Liberal caucus members Lee Fairclough, Adil Shamji, and Rob Cerjanec have also said they are seriously weighing leadership bids.
Shamji described the decision as a significant personal and political commitment.
“It is a promise of what the party will look like and what the province will look like,” he said, adding that he is considering whether he can fully meet the demands of the role.
Fairclough said she is taking a closer look at a potential run in 2026, noting encouragement from supporters and her leadership experience, including serving as a hospital president. She also emphasized the importance of having a strong woman in the race and a leader who holds a seat in the legislature.
Ted Hsu, who placed fourth in the 2023 contest, has ruled out another run. Former Ontario Liberal Party president Mike Crawley is also reported to be considering entering the race.
Longtime Liberal strategist Sharan Kaur said the party needs renewed energy and a compelling vision.
“What the party needs is a vision,” she said. “They need to get excited about someone.”
Mixed record as leader
Crombie led the Ontario Liberals for two years, overseeing a return to official party status after the party won 14 seats in the February 2025 provincial election, up from nine previously. The Liberals finished second in the popular vote with about 30 per cent support.
However, Crombie lost her own seat in Mississauga, and the party failed to form the official Opposition, despite receiving nearly 600,000 more votes than Marit Stiles’s New Democrats. Premier Doug Ford called the election more than a year early, and the Progressive Conservatives won decisively.
Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser thanked Crombie for restoring official party status, calling it “a game changer” that provides the caucus with research, travel resources, and equal footing in the legislature. Fraser said he will not seek the leadership but stressed that the next leader must be prepared for extensive travel and sustained grassroots work.
Crombie entered provincial politics with high expectations and quickly emerged as a sharp critic of Ford. Her leadership campaign drew strong support, though it was marked by a few early controversies, including comments about Greenbelt land swaps and positioning the party to the right of centre — statements she later walked back.
She won the leadership in 2023 after three rounds of balloting, defeating Erskine-Smith, former cabinet minister Yasir Naqvi, and Hsu.
Despite early confidence in her ability to deliver victories in Peel Region, Crombie and the Liberals failed to win any of the area’s six seats in the 2025 election, bringing her tenure as leader to a close and setting the stage for a new chapter in the party’s leadership.