Is Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie running for leadership of Ontario Liberal Party?

MISSISSAUGA, Monday May 22, 2023 – A bonnieforleader.ca website appeared live for a short time, according to several sources on Monday and it started a media frenzy. The CBC said “sources close to her” told CBC she is setting up an exploratory committee for a potential leadership bid. Canadian Press told CP24 the same on Monday.

The news comes just days after the announcement that Mississauga will get its wish to separate from Peel region, in fact the Hazel McCallion Act, will if passed, begin the process to dissolve the Regional Municipality of Peel and make the municipalities of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon independent.

On the website leaked by CBC, a section titled “My Vision for Ontario,” conveys that Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie wants to build an “inclusive Ontario.”

“Our province is filled with opportunities. It is a place where millions have chosen to set down roots, start families and build businesses and careers.

“I want to build an inclusive Ontario that realizes our potential. It is what I have done Mississauga,” reads the statement, “and what I want to share with the rest of the province.”

Crombie’s “vision” for Ontario goes on seemingly to criticize the Ford government, saying:

“We need a government that encourages business and entrepreneurship instead of advancing insiders and cronies.”

The statement concludes strongly stating that the current regime is taking Ontario down the wrong path.

“We have some serious problems in Ontario, and I can’t stand by as the current government takes us down the wrong path ad does irrevocable damage for generations,” the statement on the leaked website reads.

The CBC seems to have had a good amount of time to examine the website bonnieforleader.ca before it was taking back offline.

In another section on the website, according to the CBC it says the “current provincial government has made things worse through cutbacks and under funding of key public services.”

Mississauga’s mayor since 2014, Crombie was also a federal Liberal MP from 2008 to 2011.

Crombie is expected to be interviewed on CP24 Breakfast on Tuesday at 7 a.m. to discuss her decision.

lead photo Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie at the Paint The Town Red Canada Day Parade in Port Credit July 2022. by Terry Lankstead

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