Outgoing Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith says he will not seek the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, citing his recent defeat in the federal Liberal nomination contest in Scarborough Southwest.
Speaking at a farewell event in East York on Thursday, Erskine-Smith said his experience losing the nomination ended any interest in pursuing provincial leadership.
“Having gone through what I went through in Scarborough, it just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Erskine-Smith, who has represented the Beaches—East York riding since 2015, announced last month that he would resign from federal politics. He added that while he is stepping away from a provincial leadership bid, he still believes there are other opportunities to contribute to public life.
“There are other ways to make a difference and I think the door is closed on that,” he said, referring to a potential run for Ontario Liberal leader.
While ruling out provincial ambitions, Erskine-Smith has not closed the door on returning to municipal politics, saying he is continuing to consider seeking elected office at the city level.
