Mississauga Mayor, Bonnie Crombie Crombie announced this week that she has set up an exploratory committee for a potential bid to helm the beleaguered Ontario Liberals after two abysmal elections that left the party with just seven seats at Queen's Park.
Candidates have until Sept. 5 has to register to run and must pay an entry fee of $100,000 and a refundable $25,000 deposit. The leader will be chosen by party members by ranked ballot on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 and with the new leader announced on Dec. 2.
Despite the “thinking about it” positioning, she has taken dead aim at Ford’s record. Says she… "We have some serious problems in Ontario, and I can't stand by as the current government takes us down the wrong path and does irrevocable damage for generations," the site reads.
Crombie said she would remain as mayor of Mississauga while she mulls a run, only limiting her attendance at some events.
Meanwhile Ford has criticised Crombie saying it would be a "slap in the face" to residents for her to continue in the city's top job while campaigning to lead the third-place party. A visibly irritated Ford said Crombie's provincial ambitions are about her own "political agenda" and that staying on as mayor while running for the Liberal leadership would mean neglecting her constituents.
Ford lambasts Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie over potential Liberal leadership bid (msn.com)
This could be a very serious challenge to Ford’s reign as Ontario Premier. By the time of the next election, voter fatigue may well have set in for the Conservatives and for Ford.
His authoritarian approach to many issues has already started to grate (well it always did) and the list of unpopular issues being pushed is growing. While this may fly in the absence of a strong opponent, someone with Crombie’s credibility and articulate demeanor is going to make for an interesting foil.
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