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Former Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith is running for a Toronto city council seat in Beaches-East York in the upcoming October municipal election.
Erskine-Smith, who represented Beaches-East York as an MP for more than 10 years, said in an emailed statement to CBC News Wednesday morning that he was running to represent Ward 19 and had been asked by Mayor Olivia Chow to join her team.
He registered his candidacy for the council race at city hall on Wednesday morning.
The move comes after he resigned from federal politics in July and after he failed to secure the Ontario Liberal Party nomination in the provincial riding of Scarborough-Southwest in May ahead of a byelection.
He appealed the nomination results but his appeal was dismissed by a party panel.
When asked by reporters outside city hall if the municipal position was his second choice to fall back on, Erskin Smith acknowledged the “twists and turns” he’s faced in politics over the years. But he said that he registered after “people across the political spectrum” asked him to serve the community once more.
“I’ve learned a lot over the years. I learned you don’t run for any particular role. You run to serve your community and that’s why I’m aiming to do,” he said.
Former Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith registered to run for the Toronto city council seat in Beaches-East York at city hall on Wednesday morning. (Paul Smith/CBC)
Erskine-Smith, a lawyer, was first elected to Beaches-East York as an MP in 2015. He was re-elected in the riding in 2019, 2021 and 2025.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau named him as housing, infrastructure and communities minister in 2024. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, Erskine-Smith continued in the role, but Carney dropped him from federal cabinet in May 2025.
In 2023, he ran for the Ontario Liberal Party leadership but placed second, losing to Bonnie Crombie.
Erskine-Smith said federal politics hadn’t been sustainable for him with the constant travel away from his family, but he hopes to keep representing the people of his community.
WATCH | Erskine-Smith spoke earlier this year on his Ontario Liberal nomination appeal:
Erskine-Smith appeals Ontario Liberal nomination loss, alleging ‘irregularities’
Ontario Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is appealing the results of the Ontario Liberal nomination in the riding of Scarborough Southwest after raising questions about the process, calling for a ‘full investigation.’ Power & Politics asks Erskine-Smith about the irregularities he’s alleging, and about his plans to step down as a federal MP.
The former MP said he is joining the municipal race for three reasons: to work alongside Chow, to tackle issues from housing to climate action, and to serve Toronto’s east end as a “hands-on” councillor.
He said that he liked how Chow was able to “put the politics aside to get things done” and enjoyed working with her previously as minister.
Ward 19’s seat is currently held by mayoral candidate Brad Bradford, who Erskine-Smith says he has a “constructive” relationship with despite not seeing eye to eye in politics.
10 other candidates already registered to run for seat
Erskine-Smith will run against 10 other candidates in the ward, including Natalie Johnson, who issued a statement on Tuesday night before he filed his nomination papers.
“Beaches-East York isn’t a consolation prize,” Johnson said in the statement.
“The election for this seat has been in the calendar for a long time: long before Nate decided to leave Beaches-East York and run in Scarborough Southwest. After two failed attempts at Queen’s Park, he’s circling back to Beaches—East York to try to settle for City Hall,” she added.
“This ward is not a backup plan, and the residents of Beaches—East York deserve a councillor who chooses this community first, not one who turned to the council race as a last resort.”
Johnson said her campaign will continue despite his plans because she is focused on community.
“We are focusing on fixing traffic, including rebuilding the Gardiner ramp, improving transit, and ensuring our streets, parks, and public spaces are clean, safe, and well-maintained.”