Mississauga Mayor Crombie Exploring Possibility of Running for Ontario Liberal Leadership: Source

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie is photographed on the steps of the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on May 18, 2023. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

Former federal MP and Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie is exploring the possibility of entering the leadership race for the Ontario Liberal Party, according to a source close to her office.

Crombie has been the mayor of Mississauga—a major Ontario city just west of Toronto—since 2014 and previously served as a federal Liberal MP from 2008 to 2011.

Internet Archives shows a domain by the name of “BonnieforLeader.ca“ became active on May 22, but the website is currently unavailable.

A source close to the mayor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Epoch Times that Crombie has set up an “exploratory committee” to consider launching a leadership bid for the provincial Liberal Party.

“At this point in time, the mayor is exploring whether her candidacy would be well received by Liberals and what type of support and encouragement she would receive,” the source said.

Crombie’s office didn’t provide confirmation of the news when asked by The Epoch Times.

The party has been without a leader since Steven Del Duca, who is now the mayor of Vaughan, Ontario, resigned from the position following his 2021 campaign during the provincial election that saw the Liberals once again fail to secure official party status in the Ontario Legislature.

To date, the only candidate who has officially launched a bid for the party’s leadership is federal Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who represents the Ontario riding of Beaches–East York federally. 

The Ontario Liberals will not be announcing their new leader until early December.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.