Liberal MP challenges nomination loss for Scarborough Southwest byelection

Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith filed a notice of appeal Tuesday to the provincial Liberals, challenging the result of a nomination race that he lost.

Erskine-Smith was vying to represent the provincial party in the upcoming Scarborough Southwest byelection ahead of an intended bid for the leadership of the party.

He lost Saturday to Ahsanul Hafiz by a slim margin then cast doubt on the process, suggesting there were voter ID issues.

Erskine-Smith represents the neighbouring riding of Beaches-East York federally, and some of his fellow nomination candidates bristled at what they saw as a candidate trying to use their community as a springboard for the leadership.

Erskine-Smith has suggested the party “establishment” was working to prevent him from winning the nomination, a charge the party denies. The party is standing behind the integrity of the race and the vote as the appeal is now handled by its arbitration committee.

“I have complete confidence in the integrity of our party’s process and in the work of the arbitration committee,” interim leader John Fraser wrote in a statement. “The committee will review the appeal carefully, fairly and swiftly, consistent with our rules and procedures.”

WATCH | Liberal MP suggested Monday that he may challenge nomination results:

Liberal Nathaniel Erskine-Smith loses Ontario nomination bid, considers challenge

Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith faces a major setback in his bid to lead the Ontario Liberal Party, after he failed to secure the party’s nomination to run in the upcoming Scarborough Southwest byelection. Erskine-Smith has suggested he might challenge the result of the vote, journalist Sabrina Nanji reports.

In an interview with CBC TV’s Power & Politics on Tuesday, Erskine-Smith said he “honestly” doesn’t know about his next steps on the Ontario Liberal leadership race and he’s “not sure” if he’s the person to deliver the change the party needs.

Erskine-Smith said he has no timeline on his next steps provincially.

“There are lots of good people who want to put their name on a leadership ballot and I’m going to be helping to reform this party one way or another,” he said.

Stepping away from MP role ‘no matter what’

As for his current position as federal MP, he said: “I am going to step away from my role as an MP no matter what.”

Erskine-Smith said his plan is to stay on until the end of June at the request of the Prime Minister’s Office because of the “tough parliamentary math situation.” He said he will “hopefully” give his farewell speech sometime in June.

Erskine-Smith’s team confirmed on Tuesday that he had filed his notice of appeal.

WATCH | Erskine-Smith speaks to Power & Politics about his appeal:

Erskine-Smith appeals Ontario Liberal nomination loss, alleging ‘irregularities’

Ontario Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is appealing the results of the Ontario Liberal nomination in the riding of Scarborough Southwest after raising questions about the process, calling for a ‘full investigation.’ Power & Politics asks Erskine-Smith about the irregularities he’s alleging, and about his plans to step down as a federal MP.

He has not yet said if losing the nomination race will deter the leadership bid he has been signalling for months.

When he entered the nomination race he said he would quit federal politics once the byelection is called, saying he is “all in” for Ontario.

Scarborough Southwest riding vacant since February

The riding has been vacant since early February, when the NDP member of provincial parliament, Doly Begum, resigned to successfully run for the federal Liberals.

Premier Doug Ford has not yet called the byelection for that riding, but will have to do so by the summer.

The NDP has nominated Fatima Shaban, who has run for the federal NDP previously in that riding. The Progressive Conservatives have not yet nominated a candidate.