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Recent opinion polling suggests the Ontario Liberals may be righting the ship after years of heavy defeats to Doug Ford\u2019s Progressive Conservatives as the race to take the helm of the party\u2019s future begins to heat up.<\/p>\n
In a Liaison Strategies poll published at the end of July, the Ontario Liberal Party held a lead at 33 per cent compared to the PC\u2019s 29 per cent, with Ford\u2019s specific approval rating at only 24 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
An Abacus Data poll published Tuesday shows support declining for Ford’s party, but it’s still in the lead at 40 per cent compared to the Liberal 32 per cent, which the firm describes as a substantial gap. Both polls surveyed 1,000 respondents. The Liaison survey was conducted from on July 20 and 21, while the Abacus survey was conducted from July 23 to 29.<\/p>\n
But the Liberals’ positive movement in the court of public opinion can\u2019t be attributed to a leader Ontarians would rather see in charge because the party has been without one since Bonnie Crombie resigned in January.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Despite the NDP being Ontario\u2019s Official Opposition in the legislature, the polls above suggest voters are looking towards the traditional alternative to the Conservatives, said Peter Graefe, an associate professor of political science at McMaster University.<\/p>\n WATCH | PCs dealing with hotel expense controversy: MPP Stan Cho resigns after $16K Toronto hotel expense controversy<\/p>\n Ontario’s Tourism Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from cabinet after facing criticism for expensing $16,000 in Toronto hotel stays despite living in the city. CBC’s Lane Harrison breaks down the controversy.<\/p>\n \u201cI think for the Liberal Party itself, it’s an important moment to figure out how do they position themselves if they’re trying to attract voters who may have voted Conservative in recent elections but are looking elsewhere?\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are the messages, the slogans and policies that are going to reach those people?\u201d<\/p>\n Graefe adds that a leadership race is won through votes from existing party members, so balancing that campaign while continuing to court former Conservative voters presents a challenge.<\/p>\n Who will get to pick up the party\u2019s momentum will be decided in November, when the party elects a new leader. The field of contestants is now clear, with the deadline to file nomination papers with the party passing on July 31 and the first debate scheduled for Aug. 10.\u00a0<\/p>\n The leadership candidates are:\u00a0<\/p>\n Navdeep Bains, a former science and industry minister in Justin Trudeau’s government who left politics in 2021. He most recently served as an executive at Rogers.\u00a0Stephanie Bowman, the MPP for Don Valley West since 2022, an accountant and former bank executive.\u00a0Lee Fairclough, a first-time MPP representing Etobicoke-Lakeshore, former president of St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener and a former player on Canada\u2019s National Women\u2019s Rugby Team.\u00a0Vikram Handa, a graduate of the University of British Columbia law school who bills himself as a \u201chousing leader and social impact executive.\u201d\u00a0Eric Lombardi, founder of the advocacy group More Neighbours Toronto, with a professional background in finance and technology.\u00a0Dylan Marando, a policy advisor to Liberal premiers Kathleen Wynne and Dalton McGuinty, as well as prime minister Justin Trudeau.\u00a0<\/p>\n Health care, education, housing and affordability were among the common themes raised by candidates who spoke to CBC News. Bains\u2019s campaign did not respond to an interview request.<\/p>\n Bowman was unavailable for an interview but said in a news release issued Wednesday she wants to build a foundation for the party’s success.<\/p>\n “We need to organize earlier, build stronger, and support ridings well ahead of the next election,” she said.<\/p>\n Fairclough says having a seat gives her an advantage<\/p>\n Former Liberal leader Steven Del Duca resigned after failing to win his Vaughan-Woodbridge seat<\/a> in 2022. Crombie also failed to woo GTA voters in 2025, losing her bid to represent Mississauga East-Cooksville.<\/a><\/p>\n Fairclough said it\u2019s important the next head of the party already has a place at Queen\u2019s Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI’m hearing from Liberals across Ontario that they are looking for a leader that has a seat in the legislature,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can challenge the premier every day.\u201d<\/p>\n She said where she won her contest is also important, taking a riding in the premier\u2019s part of the province from a Conservative incumbent.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve played rugby for Canada, which some people say that [I’m] tough enough for Ford based on that alone.<\/p>\n Marando touts experience<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784310612_default.jpg\")
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