What's interesting is that Crombie's job was easier than Poilievre's in a number of ways - from the summer of 2024, either a Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 campaign was expected, while the rumours of Trudeau stepping down didn't even start until four months before election day and even then it wasn't clear until January/February who the LPC leader was going to be. Crombie didn't have to deal with a change of leader like Pierre did; it wasn't like the playbook had to be rewritten on the fly with almost no notice (and we all saw how hard that was for the CPC - remember "Carbon Tax Carney"?). I'd also argue that Carney, as long as he didn't monumentally screw up (which he didn't) was a superior candidate to Ford because his unfavourables were so low and he didn't have Ford's baggage of 7 years of government. The OLP and ONDP have been able to get away with mediocrity for so long - the ONDP, because they've been able to get Official Opposition three times in a row, the OLP because they've been able to grow - however slowly - in each election since 2018 - and it's long past time that both parties get serious about making the changes they need to make to have a shot at winning in 2029.
"The OLP and ONDP have been able to get away with mediocrity for so long - the ONDP, because they've been able to get Official Opposition three times in a row, the OLP because they've been able to grow - however slowly - in each election since 2018 - and it's long past time that both parties get serious about making the changes they need to make to have a shot at winning in 2029." Yes!
"... the solution for the Ontario Liberals is a more *exciting* leader".
I am a 'has-been' Federal Liberal organizer in what was: Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. From being a Campaign Manager to hosting the GOTV team in Sharbot Lake, I've been involved in every election since 2008. (6) I've also been involved with the Provincial Libs. Bonnie lost me with the Greenbelt. Nate lost me with his individualism. Time for a generational change?
There is a difference between Poilievre and Crombie that you are overlooking Evan: Poilievre actively antagonized and riled non-Conservative voters to the point where they understandably united behind the Carney Liberals to specifically stop Poilievre from becoming Prime Minister. Poilievre was polarizing to the point where 41% elector support simply was not good enough, where it would normally have won the Conservatives an election. But in the 2025 Ontario election, more than half of registered voters could not be bothered to vote, let alone turnout to vote to stop Crombie in particular from becoming Premier. She was not a polarizing candidate for Premier so much as she was an *ignored* candidate for Premier. So while the solution for the Conservatives is a less antagonistic leader, the solution for the Ontario Liberals is a more *exciting* leader.
So the only real question is whether Crombie knows how to rebuild the OLP into a party that will have a more representative and appealing message next time, or not. I have seen her acknowledge at a regional meeting that the farcical "policy convention" of last year was not good enough, which is a positive sign. Whether or not that is adequate introspection, it certainly is better than whatever introspection Poilievre has had to offer so far.
You are absolutely right in your point that quality alternatives will only make themselves known if they are given the time and place to offer themselves up. I just wish that we could have an airing of all the alternatives before a potential public humiliation of the first Liberal leader since Dalton McGuinty in the 1990s who was willing to give another shot after an election defeat. Leadership reviews are broken processes insofar as rejected Leaders are implicitly banished from running in the contest that results from their rejection, even though the alternatives are not known until after the rejection. At some point I would be interested in submitting a constitutional amendment to make leadership contests more of a given recurring fact of life, guaranteed within certain timelines like all other elected party offices. (New Leaf Liberals who want to help me with that can email me at electstefan@gmail.com.)
What's interesting is that Crombie's job was easier than Poilievre's in a number of ways - from the summer of 2024, either a Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 campaign was expected, while the rumours of Trudeau stepping down didn't even start until four months before election day and even then it wasn't clear until January/February who the LPC leader was going to be. Crombie didn't have to deal with a change of leader like Pierre did; it wasn't like the playbook had to be rewritten on the fly with almost no notice (and we all saw how hard that was for the CPC - remember "Carbon Tax Carney"?). I'd also argue that Carney, as long as he didn't monumentally screw up (which he didn't) was a superior candidate to Ford because his unfavourables were so low and he didn't have Ford's baggage of 7 years of government. The OLP and ONDP have been able to get away with mediocrity for so long - the ONDP, because they've been able to get Official Opposition three times in a row, the OLP because they've been able to grow - however slowly - in each election since 2018 - and it's long past time that both parties get serious about making the changes they need to make to have a shot at winning in 2029.
"The OLP and ONDP have been able to get away with mediocrity for so long - the ONDP, because they've been able to get Official Opposition three times in a row, the OLP because they've been able to grow - however slowly - in each election since 2018 - and it's long past time that both parties get serious about making the changes they need to make to have a shot at winning in 2029." Yes!
"... the solution for the Ontario Liberals is a more *exciting* leader".
I am a 'has-been' Federal Liberal organizer in what was: Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. From being a Campaign Manager to hosting the GOTV team in Sharbot Lake, I've been involved in every election since 2008. (6) I've also been involved with the Provincial Libs. Bonnie lost me with the Greenbelt. Nate lost me with his individualism. Time for a generational change?
There is a difference between Poilievre and Crombie that you are overlooking Evan: Poilievre actively antagonized and riled non-Conservative voters to the point where they understandably united behind the Carney Liberals to specifically stop Poilievre from becoming Prime Minister. Poilievre was polarizing to the point where 41% elector support simply was not good enough, where it would normally have won the Conservatives an election. But in the 2025 Ontario election, more than half of registered voters could not be bothered to vote, let alone turnout to vote to stop Crombie in particular from becoming Premier. She was not a polarizing candidate for Premier so much as she was an *ignored* candidate for Premier. So while the solution for the Conservatives is a less antagonistic leader, the solution for the Ontario Liberals is a more *exciting* leader.
So the only real question is whether Crombie knows how to rebuild the OLP into a party that will have a more representative and appealing message next time, or not. I have seen her acknowledge at a regional meeting that the farcical "policy convention" of last year was not good enough, which is a positive sign. Whether or not that is adequate introspection, it certainly is better than whatever introspection Poilievre has had to offer so far.
You are absolutely right in your point that quality alternatives will only make themselves known if they are given the time and place to offer themselves up. I just wish that we could have an airing of all the alternatives before a potential public humiliation of the first Liberal leader since Dalton McGuinty in the 1990s who was willing to give another shot after an election defeat. Leadership reviews are broken processes insofar as rejected Leaders are implicitly banished from running in the contest that results from their rejection, even though the alternatives are not known until after the rejection. At some point I would be interested in submitting a constitutional amendment to make leadership contests more of a given recurring fact of life, guaranteed within certain timelines like all other elected party offices. (New Leaf Liberals who want to help me with that can email me at electstefan@gmail.com.)