Ontario politics shifting as Mulroney exits, Bains enters race
Cabinet resignation and Liberal leadership bid signal new competitive dynamics ahead of the next provincial election.
Ontario's political landscape is shifting. Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney announced her resignation early last week, and just hours later, former federal cabinet minister Navdeep Bains launched his candidacy for Ontario Liberal leader.
Mulroney's departure is a notable blow to Premier Doug Ford's government. The 51-year-old lawyer has held some of the government's largest portfolios over eight years, including attorney general and minister of transportation. Conservative strategist Mitch Heimpel said Mulroney's exit is felt acutely: "Anytime a government loses somebody like that, it sucks."
Mulroney did not directly confirm whether she was considering a federal Conservative leadership bid, but said she was "ruling out any steps into elected politics over the next few years," citing a desire to spend more time with family.
Bains, a former MP from Brampton who left federal politics in 2021 and worked as a Rogers executive, is entering the Liberal race with a message that Ford's government has broken a basic deal with Ontarians.
Polling has tightened considerably. A month ago, surveys put the PCs and Liberals in a statistical tie following the jet controversy. A new Abacus Data survey suggests the Tories have regained some ground, though seven in 10 respondents still say it's time for a change in government. Political insiders say the timing of Mulroney's departure—a year after re-election and three years before the next vote—raises questions about the government's trajectory.