Navdeep Bains, Stephanie Bowman, Lee Fairclough, Eric Lombardi and Dylan Marando faced off for second time on Monday night
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on The Trillium, a Village Media website devoted exclusively to covering provincial politics at Queen’s Park.
The five candidates for the Ontario Liberal leadership were put on the spot in Monday evening’s debate and asked for their views on involuntary drug treatment.
None came out clearly for or against it.
Dylan Marando, Eric Lombardi, Lee Fairclough, Stephanie Bowman and Navdeep Bains squared off for round two in a 90-minute debate moderated by CTV Queen’s Park bureau chief Siobhan Morris.
Toward the end of the event, Morris asked the candidates to weigh in on a proposal from Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) to increase mandatory addiction treatment, which Ontario Premier Doug Ford has recently said he’s considering.
The idea has gained more traction as municipal leaders have struggled to deal with open drug use and public disorder in their communities, but it has prompted concern from civil liberties groups.
Fairclough, a former hospital CEO, replied that Ontario needs a “proper mental health and addiction system,” but did not rule out involuntary drug treatment on principle.
“I think that we need to make sure people have access to the care they need before we go to forcing people into treatment,” she said, and pivoted to other health-care talking points.
Marando, a former policy adviser for the provincial and federal governments, did not answer the question at all, and spoke about seniors’ health-care needs.
Lombardi, a housing advocate, echoed Fairclough in saying that Ontario first needs more rehabilitative housing capacity before considering involuntary care.
“People are getting very angry about the disorder,” he added, “and I will go to the absolute wall to fix this problem.”
Bains, a former federal Liberal cabinet minister, also opted not to weigh in, saying Ontario needs more transitional housing.
Finally, Bowman echoed Fairclough and Lombardi, saying that voluntary care capacity is needed first.
For most of the debate, the candidates returned to themes they’ve relied on over the long campaign. Bains talked about his experience as a federal MP and promised to renew the deal of “opportunity” in Ontario.
Bowman, the Don Valley West MPP, said that she has always felt a “duty to serve” and promised to empower party members.
Fairclough, the MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, said she would be accountable to party members and that her vision is for the Ontario Liberals to focus on bringing local issues to the provincial seat of power.
“Doug Ford, in the last eight years, has never faced a leader with a seat in the legislature,” Fairclough said. “As leader I will be doing just that.”
Lombardi, who has released a detailed platform pitched himself as the candidate with ideas and criticized Bains and Marando for not putting forward substantive plans.
“Dylan that sounded very nice but I don’t think it said very much at all,” Lombardi said to Marando during debate on affordability. “And Nav I still hear from you you talk about having a comprehensive plan. But I haven’t heard that kind of planning or thinking on actual substantive solutions that we need.”
Marando who like Lombardi has no previous experience in elected office pitched himself as an underdog – just like “the young worker who builds homes but can’t afford his own,” “the teacher that gets up early to coach morning practice but gets shortchanged by Queen’s Park,” and “the small business owner who is fighting to save farm that’s been in her family for generations.”
“So yeah I’m an underdog but I’ve got some company we don’t quit,” he said.
The period to join party closed on Sept. 7 for general members and student club members on Sept. 25. The Liberal Party hasn’t revealed how many members signed up this time around. In last leadership race in 2023 party had over 100000 people eligible vote.
Voting for leadership begins Nov. 9. The Liberal Party will announce its next leader Nov. 21.
Watch replay of this week’s debate on Ontario Liberals’ You Tube page embedded below.
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