TORONTO – The Ontario Liberals have turned down an appeal from MP Nate Erskine-Smith regarding a loss in a nomination contest earlier this month, raising doubts about his leadership aspirations for the provincial party.
Erskine-Smith was aiming to represent the provincial Liberals in the upcoming Scarborough Southwest byelection but lost out on the party’s nomination, which went to Ahsanul Hafiz instead.
He appealed to the party’s arbitration panel, claiming there were irregularities such as 34 more ballots being counted than voters recorded, along with individuals who couldn’t confirm their addresses or said they had “just lost” their driver’s licenses.
The decision from the arbitration panel, released late Sunday, stated that Hafiz is the “true winner” of the nomination vote.
“We have carefully considered all of the evidence,” the panel wrote.
“It does not substantiate Mr. Erskine-Smith’s allegations. He has not established that any individual who was not entitled to vote voted at the nomination meeting. Nor does the evidence call into question the integrity of the nomination process.”
After his loss, Erskine-Smith expressed his intention to run in Scarborough Southwest ahead of seeking leadership for the party; however, he now believes that is “much less likely” after failing to secure the nomination.
Currently representing Beaches-East York federally – though he plans to resign soon – some fellow candidates felt frustrated by what they perceived as him using their community as a stepping stone for leadership.
Following his defeat, besides alleging voting issues, he suggested that party “establishment” members worked against him winning.
The arbitration panel found no evidence supporting his bias claim and noted that many of his allegations about irregularities were raised only after votes were tallied and results announced.
“We conclude that Mr. Erskine-Smith’s scrutineers did not take issue with the comings and goings of the nomination meeting while it was underway and did not decide to complain about it until after the meeting had ended and the outcome was known,” stated the panel.
The reported discrepancy of 34 ballots wasn’t seen as voting irregularities but rather an error in record-keeping due to failing to cross off voters’ names on lists, according to their conclusion.
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser mentioned that they are committed to maintaining an open and transparent process.
“Now that the arbitration committee dismissed this appeal, our focus is on serving Scarborough Southwest voters,” he said in a statement.
“They have an important decision ahead, and we will work hard to earn their trust.”
This byelection must be called by summer and aims to fill Doly Begum’s seat following her resignation earlier this year as NDP member of provincial parliament for Scarborough Southwest so she could successfully run federally for Liberals in that riding.
This report by The Canadian Press was first May 24, 2026.
Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
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