Ontario Liberal Party's Origins and Purposes Examined
In the recent Ontario election, the Liberal party had high hopes for Bonnie Crombie to return them to power. However, Crombie's campaign fell short, leading to her eventual resignation as party leader after a leadership review in 2025.
Crombie, a popular former mayor of Mississauga, faced a challenging landscape. Her election platform, along with that of the Liberals, was perceived as mundane and boring compared to the charismatic and populist Doug Ford. Ford, known for his irreverent clown-like antics, was successful despite scandals related to the Greenbelt, Ontario Place, Science Centre, mismanagement of the economy, and record accumulating debt.
Crombie's failure to win a seat in her own neighbourhood, where she had formerly commanded huge support as mayor, was a significant blow. Critics claimed that she and her team did not fully understand the public mood. Some also criticised her for not trying harder to win by-elections, such as the one in Milton.
The NDP, on the other hand, emerged as the clear alternative to Ford in the election. They have already become the main opposition, or government, in all the provinces west of Ontario. If the Liberals cannot distinguish themselves, there is a possibility that the NDP might become the main opposition in Ontario as well.
Doug Ford called the election and played on Ontario voters' emotions, resulting in another majority government. He has since banned ranked ballots, even in municipal elections, fearing they might also creep into the provincial arena. A ranked ballot system, which guarantees the winner has at least 50% support, is proposed as a better form of democracy.
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, former federal bureaucrat, candidate for provincial office, and the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability, is among those advocating for ranked ballots. Rivers holds a post-graduate degree in economics from the University of Ottawa.
The Tories fear they would lose power under a ranked ballot system. Despite this, the Liberals have returned to official party status, although Crombie's resignation as MPP after receiving a generous stipend from the dwindling party while waiting to be gainfully employed has raised eyebrows.
In conclusion, the 2025 Ontario election marked a significant shift in the political landscape. The Liberal party's failure to capitalise on Bonnie Crombie's popularity, coupled with Doug Ford's populist appeal and the NDP's strong showing, has set the stage for an interesting few years in Ontario politics.
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