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

Bonnie Crombie says she will resign as Ontario Liberal leader, after a weak show of support at the party’s annual general meeting.

Delegates at the Ontario Liberal AGM this weekend 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.

She says in a statement hours after the results were announced 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.

The resignation notice comes just hours after 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.

In a statement sent to CBC, Crombie said she spoke to her family, colleagues and the party executive prior to making the decision.

“I wanted to be sure the party was ready to take on the significant challenge of putting on a leadership race and could draft a clear roadmap,” the statement said. “They have assured me that the party is ready, and I am confident they can handle that task.”

Crombie added she believes this was the best decision for the party.

“I looked out at our audience today and thought about all the conversations I’ve had over the last few days,” Crombie said. “This is more important than ego. This is more important than ambition. This is about the very thing that unites us all.”

In a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Ontario Premier Doug Ford thanked Crombie for her “many years of public service.”

“Politics demands a lot of personal sacrifice, including time away from family and loved ones. I want to wish Bonnie all the best in her next chapter,” Ford wrote.

The AGM was the party’s first since the February election that saw them increase their seat count from nine to 14 and regain official party status, but also saw them fail to form Official Opposition and left their leader without a seat in the legislature.