Here's what the new Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie promised
The Ontario Liberal Party has a new leader.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie was chosen on Saturday with 6,911 points, 53.4 per cent of the vote, after the third ballot. More than 100,000 party members were eligible to cast ballots last weekend. During Saturday's count, the Liberal Party announced that 22,827 participated in the vote, nearly double from the 2020 race.
"Thank you for believing in what we are going to build together. Thank you for taking a spark and turning it into a big, red flame here today. There is no question, being an Ontario Liberal is back, and that is thanks to each and every one of you," Crombie said as she took the podium following the announcement.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
In the first round of votes, Crombie scored the highest number of points with 5,559 (43 per cent), Nate Erskine-Smith with 3,320 points (25.7 per cent), Yasir Naqvi with 2,270 points (21.3 per cent) and Ted Hsu with 1,300 points (10 per cent). A total of 50 per cent, or 6,471 votes, is needed to win the leadership contest, so Hsu was eliminated. His supporters' second choices were tallied up and added to the points of the remaining candidates.
In the second round of votes, Crombie inched closer to the magic number with 6,047 points (46.7 per cent), while Erskine-Smith saw a total of 3,792 points (29.3 per cent). Naqvi scored 3,101 points (24 per cent) on the second ballot, removing him from consideration as voting rolls into the third round.
Here’s what Crombie promised:
HEALTH CARE
Crombie’s plan touts a “patient-central” approach to health care by eliminating loopholes that allow corporations to bypass the Canada Health Act and clearing the surgical backlog “without resorting to private for-profit surgical centres.”
She also said she would provide 10 paid sick days for everyone, recruit more family doctors and expand nurse practitioner-led clinics, expand hospitals and deliver wage parity between staff in home, community, long-term and acute care sectors.
Crombie also said she would give personal support workers and registered practical nurses a pay bump.
HOUSING
Crombie will require home builders to include at least 20 per cent long-term affordable units as a condition of the sale of provincial surplus land, including near GO Stations. Other initiatives include removing the Provincial Sales Tax on construction of purpose-built rental housing, introducing provincial rebates for development charges, creating as-of-right zoning frameworks to unlock more rental homes, and limiting third-party Ontario Land Tribunal appeals.
Bonnie Crombie, who is considering a bid for the Ontario Liberal Leadership is photographed on the steps of the Ontario Legislature, in Toronto on Thursday May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
She also said she will reward towns and cities with progress-based, top-up funding for community infrastructure tied to housing starts.
GREENBELT
Crombie has promised to “take politics out of the process” when it comes to the Greenbelt by creating an arms-length process to preserve and expand the protected space. She will also legislate the boundary to “prevent land swaps for good.”
DEMOCRACY
The Mississauga mayor said she will allow municipalities to choose a ranked-ballot system in their municipal elections and potentially introduce electronic voting, raise the filing fee and the number of endorsements needed to run for mayor, and support the idea of launching a citizens' assembly to make recommendations on electoral reform in Ontario.
OTHER PROMISES IN HER PLATFORM
- Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
- Deliver smaller class sizes through the use of mandatory ratios or students and teachers
- End mandatory online learning credits and eliminate EQAO testing
- Boost the low-income workers and family tax credit
- Double the current rate of the Ontario Disability Support Program
- Eliminate provincial portion of interests on OSAP loans
- Boost the Guaranteed Annual Income system and Ontario Seniors’ Care at Home Tax Credit
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Joe Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Kamala Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election after doubts were raised about his fitness for office. Soon after, he endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris to take his place in the November election.
Justin Trudeau reacts to Joe Biden announcing he won't run for re-election
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden won’t run for re-election Sunday, calling Biden a 'true friend.'
Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work
With U.S. President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
NEW YORK (AP) — Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.
Woman found dead in the water near Sunset Beach: Vancouver police
Investigators were at Vancouver’s Sunset Beach after a woman’s body was found in the water Sunday morning, according to authorities.
Ottawa man waiting nearly a year for car to be fixed at Acura dealership
An Ottawa man says he’s been waiting nearly a year for his car to be repaired after it was damaged during a storm in August.
Canadian musicians struggle to get visas to perform in the U.S., some cancel shows
Backlogs and processing delays of temporary U.S. visas required by entertainers, athletes and artists has forced some Canadian bands to cancel U.S. tour dates because paperwork wasn't processed in time.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
A Florida woman was killed 24 years ago. DNA evidence just helped police make an arrest in the cold case
A Florida woman’s brutal killing nearly 25 years ago may finally be solved after authorities arrested the suspect this week, according to the Sanford Police Department.