Bonnie Crombie, the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, suffered a significant defeat during the province's recent election, losing her own riding of Mississauga East-Cooksville to Progressive Conservative candidate Silvia Gualtieri. Despite this setback, Crombie has vowed to continue her leadership and push her party forward, capitalizing on the progress made during the campaign.
The election results were unveiled on February 27, 2025, with Gualtieri securing 46.46% of the votes cast, totaling 16,763 against Crombie's 15,536 votes. Alex Venuto from the Ontario New Democratic Party was far behind, receiving only 1,876 votes. Gualtieri's victory was particularly notable as she is also the mother-in-law of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, adding to her local name recognition.
After the results became clear, Crombie addressed her supporters at the Mississauga Convention Centre, expressing disappointment but also pride in the progress of the Liberal Party. "People counted us out, they said the Ontario Liberal Party was dead. Tonight, you proved them wrong," she stated, acknowledging the number of seats her party had won to regain official status, which they had lost since the 2018 election. The Liberals increased their vote share to 30%, well above the NDP's.
Crombie’s tenure as leader began back in December 2023, and she had previously enjoyed great success as the mayor of Mississauga, where she won the position with 78% of the popular vote just two years prior. Nonetheless, her focus this time was not solely on her constituency, leading to speculation about whether this distance affected her outcome. Critics hinted at her lack of visibility in the riding as she worked on party strategy beyond Queen’s Park.
While she expressed commitment to her role, Crombie underscored the necessity for the Liberal Party to regroup, celebrating its return to official party status. This new status grants them parliamentary privileges such as equal participation during debates and access to legislative funding, which will significantly benefit the party's operations and visibility. "This is momentum for us to push forward and grow," she noted, highlighting the importance of the recent electoral achievements.
With Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives projected to form another majority government, Crombie's challenge remains to position the Liberals as credible contenders against what many see as increasing hegemony from the PC party. She targeted Ford directly during her campaign, criticizing his government for failing to address major issues such as health care and housing shortages. Crombie repeatedly reminded voters of the Conservative Party's unfulfilled promises: "Doug Ford said he’d end hallway medicine... He didn’t get it done."
Looking forward, Crombie hinted at future strategies to rebuild the party and regain trust among Ontarians. "I commit to you today, I will stay on as Ontario Liberal leader, so I can keep fighting for you," she proclaimed amid chants of support from her crowd.
Despite the personal defeat, Crombie’s resolve to maintain her leadership role showcases her determination to revive the Ontario Liberal brand. Observers note her experience and previous support from the city, anticipating future efforts to reclaim her political standing. There’s already talk among party members about potential byelections where Crombie could again seek office.
Essentially, Bonnie Crombie's loss is seen as both a setback and a turning point, illuminating the political dynamics within Ontario as the Liberal Party seeks to improve its position heading toward the next elections. The narrative of her leadership will undoubtedly evolve as she focuses on uniting her party and addressing key voter concerns.