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Ex-Woodstock mayor sentenced to nearly five years for sexual assaults
Judge says Trevor Birtch’s crimes marked a “catastrophic fall from grace.”
Author of the article:Jane Sims
Published May 19, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 5 minute read
Former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch leaves the London courthouse on Feb. 21, 2025. (Jane Sims/The London Free Press)
Former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch leaves the London courthouse on Feb. 21, 2025. (Jane Sims/The London Free Press)
Trevor Birtch’s prison sentence for violent sexual assaults on a former intimate partner marked the final act of what a judge called “a catastrophic fall from grace.”
The former two-term Woodstock mayor, who had no criminal record, was led out of a London courtroom Tuesday morning to begin a four-year, eight-month prison sentence after being convicted on two counts of sexual assault.
His victim was a vulnerable woman whose identity is protected by a court order and who Superior Court Justice Spencer Nicholson said Birtch treated “like your property, or worse, your pet.”
“Mr. Birtch, this case represents what I consider to be a catastrophic fall from grace,” Nicholson said in his ruling.
“It is not for this court to try to explain how or why your fall from grace happened, but the depths to which you have fallen is truly remarkable and quite saddening. I obviously do not know whether you can climb back up, but I do hope that you try for your own sake.”
The sentence stems from convictions in Birtch’s second criminal trial in September 2024 involving sex-related offences tied to a messy personal life while he was mayor and separated from his wife.
Nicholson found Birtch, 51, guilty in January 2025. Sentencing was delayed for more than a year after Birtch’s original defence lawyer was disbarred.
The victim, who was 39 at the time of Birtch’s arrest, described abusive and controlling behaviour by the former mayor, who she said supplied her with drugs and alcohol and routinely “raped” her when she was intoxicated.
She contended that she saw Birtch snort cocaine off-camera during online city council meetings during the pandemic.
Nicholson said the assaults were “particularly humiliating and degrading to the victim and clearly demonstrate that Mr. Birtch was only interested in his own sexual gratification.”
One sexual assault involved Birtch attempting to force the victim to perform a sex act on him on a roadside after a bizarre trip to Turkey Point where the woman had been assaulted by a stranger.
The second conviction covered assaults between January 2019 and April 2022, when the woman said she woke to find Birtch having sex with her or inappropriately touching her body without consent.
“Mr. Birtch, you treated the victim like she was your property, or worse, your pet, that you could do whatever you wanted to her, whenever you wanted.
“She was treated like an abused animal. She was not. She is a human being, entitled to be treated with dignity and respect,” Nicholson said.
During sentencing submissions in January, assistant Crown attorney Kristina Mildred sought a six-year prison sentence, while defence lawyer Jordan Gold asked for 3 1/2 years, arguing Birtch snapped under the pressures of being mayor and the breakdown of his marriage.
While Birtch would not admit to having an alcohol or drug problem in a pre-sentence report, his lawyer said he had been “over-medicating” with alcohol and over-the-counter pain medication for a shoulder injury and was now willing to seek addiction treatment.
Nicholson noted that nine letters of support “depict an honest, well-intended person of strong moral character who was selfless in his service to his community, including his time as mayor.”
“Respectfully, while much of what is stated may possibly reflect the person that Mr. Birtch may once have been or otherwise, it is clear that the person he was towards the victim in this case was very different,” Nicholson said.
The victim, who suffers from depression, anxiety and chronic pain, did not complete a victim impact statement, but Nicholson said “it was clear from her evidence at trial the level of vulnerability that she possessed and the level of degradation that she experienced at the hands of Mr. Birtch.”
Nicholson found Birtch supplied the victim with drugs and alcohol and said she “was susceptible to Mr. Birtch’s promises of favours as the mayor” and that “Mr. Birtch was prepared to wield the power that he perceived he had over her.”
“The evidence in this case demonstrated for all to see the callousness, the indifference that you demonstrated to this victim and to women in general,” Nicholson said.
He acknowledged that “Mr. Birtch has let a lot of people down as the mayor of Woodstock, but that, in my view, cannot play any role in his sentencing.”
The sentence nearly concludes years of court proceedings involving four separate matters, most tied to Birtch’s personal life following his separation from his wife.
His journey through the criminal justice system almost requires a road map.
He was first charged in February 2022 with assault, sexual assault and choking involving an intimate partner. The sentencing Tuesday relates to additional charges laid in April 2022 while he was still mayor of Woodstock.
In October 2022, Birtch lost his bid for a third term as mayor, finishing a distant third in the municipal election.
He stood trial before Justice Michael Carnegie in London in January 2024 on the first set of charges and was found guilty of assault and sexual assault in August 2024.
His second trial, the subject of Tuesday’s sentencing, was held before Nicholson in September 2024. Nicholson found him guilty in January 2025 on two counts of sexual assault.
However, Carnegie declared a mistrial in the first case in December 2024 after finding the Crown failed to disclose evidence referenced in the second trial that could have been relevant to the first.
In the midst of the London court cases, Birtch pleaded guilty in October 2024 to driving with twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood in connection with a two-vehicle crash near Woodstock in October 2023.
Birtch had been charged in London an hour earlier with assault and unlawful entry involving another woman. Those charges were eventually withdrawn by the Crown.
There will be no retrial on the first set of charges. Last month, Birtch pleaded guilty before Justice Marc Garson to assault and sexual assault – the same counts Carnegie had convicted him on almost two years ago.
He is to be sentenced on June 16. Garson was told by the Crown and the defence that any sentence Birtch receives will be served concurrently with Birtch’s current prison term.
jsims@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
Judge says Trevor Birtch’s crimes marked a “catastrophic fall from grace.”
Author of the article:Jane Sims
Published May 19, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 5 minute read
Former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch leaves the London courthouse on Feb. 21, 2025. (Jane Sims/The London Free Press)
Former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch leaves the London courthouse on Feb. 21, 2025. (Jane Sims/The London Free Press)
Trevor Birtch’s prison sentence for violent sexual assaults on a former intimate partner marked the final act of what a judge called “a catastrophic fall from grace.”
The former two-term Woodstock mayor, who had no criminal record, was led out of a London courtroom Tuesday morning to begin a four-year, eight-month prison sentence after being convicted on two counts of sexual assault.
His victim was a vulnerable woman whose identity is protected by a court order and who Superior Court Justice Spencer Nicholson said Birtch treated “like your property, or worse, your pet.”
“Mr. Birtch, this case represents what I consider to be a catastrophic fall from grace,” Nicholson said in his ruling.
“It is not for this court to try to explain how or why your fall from grace happened, but the depths to which you have fallen is truly remarkable and quite saddening. I obviously do not know whether you can climb back up, but I do hope that you try for your own sake.”
The sentence stems from convictions in Birtch’s second criminal trial in September 2024 involving sex-related offences tied to a messy personal life while he was mayor and separated from his wife.
Nicholson found Birtch, 51, guilty in January 2025. Sentencing was delayed for more than a year after Birtch’s original defence lawyer was disbarred.
The victim, who was 39 at the time of Birtch’s arrest, described abusive and controlling behaviour by the former mayor, who she said supplied her with drugs and alcohol and routinely “raped” her when she was intoxicated.
She contended that she saw Birtch snort cocaine off-camera during online city council meetings during the pandemic.
Nicholson said the assaults were “particularly humiliating and degrading to the victim and clearly demonstrate that Mr. Birtch was only interested in his own sexual gratification.”
One sexual assault involved Birtch attempting to force the victim to perform a sex act on him on a roadside after a bizarre trip to Turkey Point where the woman had been assaulted by a stranger.
The second conviction covered assaults between January 2019 and April 2022, when the woman said she woke to find Birtch having sex with her or inappropriately touching her body without consent.
“Mr. Birtch, you treated the victim like she was your property, or worse, your pet, that you could do whatever you wanted to her, whenever you wanted.
“She was treated like an abused animal. She was not. She is a human being, entitled to be treated with dignity and respect,” Nicholson said.
During sentencing submissions in January, assistant Crown attorney Kristina Mildred sought a six-year prison sentence, while defence lawyer Jordan Gold asked for 3 1/2 years, arguing Birtch snapped under the pressures of being mayor and the breakdown of his marriage.
While Birtch would not admit to having an alcohol or drug problem in a pre-sentence report, his lawyer said he had been “over-medicating” with alcohol and over-the-counter pain medication for a shoulder injury and was now willing to seek addiction treatment.
Nicholson noted that nine letters of support “depict an honest, well-intended person of strong moral character who was selfless in his service to his community, including his time as mayor.”
“Respectfully, while much of what is stated may possibly reflect the person that Mr. Birtch may once have been or otherwise, it is clear that the person he was towards the victim in this case was very different,” Nicholson said.
The victim, who suffers from depression, anxiety and chronic pain, did not complete a victim impact statement, but Nicholson said “it was clear from her evidence at trial the level of vulnerability that she possessed and the level of degradation that she experienced at the hands of Mr. Birtch.”
Nicholson found Birtch supplied the victim with drugs and alcohol and said she “was susceptible to Mr. Birtch’s promises of favours as the mayor” and that “Mr. Birtch was prepared to wield the power that he perceived he had over her.”
“The evidence in this case demonstrated for all to see the callousness, the indifference that you demonstrated to this victim and to women in general,” Nicholson said.
He acknowledged that “Mr. Birtch has let a lot of people down as the mayor of Woodstock, but that, in my view, cannot play any role in his sentencing.”
The sentence nearly concludes years of court proceedings involving four separate matters, most tied to Birtch’s personal life following his separation from his wife.
His journey through the criminal justice system almost requires a road map.
He was first charged in February 2022 with assault, sexual assault and choking involving an intimate partner. The sentencing Tuesday relates to additional charges laid in April 2022 while he was still mayor of Woodstock.
In October 2022, Birtch lost his bid for a third term as mayor, finishing a distant third in the municipal election.
He stood trial before Justice Michael Carnegie in London in January 2024 on the first set of charges and was found guilty of assault and sexual assault in August 2024.
His second trial, the subject of Tuesday’s sentencing, was held before Nicholson in September 2024. Nicholson found him guilty in January 2025 on two counts of sexual assault.
However, Carnegie declared a mistrial in the first case in December 2024 after finding the Crown failed to disclose evidence referenced in the second trial that could have been relevant to the first.
In the midst of the London court cases, Birtch pleaded guilty in October 2024 to driving with twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood in connection with a two-vehicle crash near Woodstock in October 2023.
Birtch had been charged in London an hour earlier with assault and unlawful entry involving another woman. Those charges were eventually withdrawn by the Crown.
There will be no retrial on the first set of charges. Last month, Birtch pleaded guilty before Justice Marc Garson to assault and sexual assault – the same counts Carnegie had convicted him on almost two years ago.
He is to be sentenced on June 16. Garson was told by the Crown and the defence that any sentence Birtch receives will be served concurrently with Birtch’s current prison term.
jsims@postmedia.com
Ex-Woodstock mayor sentenced to nearly five years for sexual assaults
Judge says Trevor Birtch’s crimes marked a “catastrophic fall from grace.”
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Insiders hinting that Katy Perry wants to break up with Justin already... #politicsmemes #cdnpolitics #cdnpoli
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Justin Trudeau causes squirms with schoolgirl 'short skirt' story
The former prime minister made those at conference visibly uncomfortable with story about length of schoolgirl skirts.
Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published May 19, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
Katie Telford and Justin Trudeau at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne, Australia.
Katie Telford and Justin Trudeau at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Facebook
As if the blackface photos, the so-called Kokanee grope, and “peoplekind” weren’t enough.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau had attendees at a women’s conference squirming as he recounted a story about teaching schoolgirls who wore their “skirts too short.”
Trudeau, 54, recently spoke at the 2026 Women Deliver Conference in Melbourne, Australia, on stage with his former chief of staff, Katie Telford. But it was Trudeau’s turn to deliver the cringey, creepy story to a predominantly female audience that was visibly uncomfortable.
Trudeau recounted a story, during his time as a teacher, when he helped found a school newspaper. He said he met a male student who was “always getting corrected” about having his shirt untucked at school. The student then wrote an essay in the newspaper complaining of what he saw as a double standard, as female students at the school would regularly break the dress code by wearing their skirts too short.
“God forbid,” interjected Telford.
Read the room, for crying out loud
Undeterred, Trudeau dug himself deeper, replying, “No, no, you see, that was also the rule — you had to keep your shirt tucked in and then have the skirt to the knees. And he (the male student) said it was totally unfair that there was a double standard on applying these rules.”
“He ended up writing this essay, suggesting that maybe the predominantly male teaching staff was slightly uncomfortable pointing out to these teenage girls that their skirts were too short, and it was just awkward for a male teacher to be pointing that out,’ Trudeau said, as both Telford and the audience seemed to grow more uncomfortable by the second.
Trudeau then went all-in, adding the essay was “a really interesting perspective.”
“So, I had the student publish this, and the newspaper got shut down the very next day,” he said.
No kidding.
Justin Trudeau in Creston, B.C. in 2000.
Justin Trudeau in Creston, B.C. in 2000. Photo by Handout
The Kokanee incident
The self-declared feminist prime minister, now dating pop star Katy Perry, found himself in some trouble when an editorial from the Creston Valley Advance in British Columbia resurfaced in 2018 accusing Trudeau of groping a young reporter while visiting the town 18 years before. The incident came to be known as “The Kokanee Grope.”
“I’m sorry. If I had known you were reporting for a national newspaper, I never would have been so forward,” Trudeau reportedly said.
“It’s not a rare incident to have a young reporter, especially a female who is working for a small community newspaper, be considered an underling to their ‘more predominant’ associates and blatantly disrespected because of it,” the editorial said. “But shouldn’t the son of a former prime minister be aware of the rights and wrongs that go along with public socializing?”
Trudeau addressed the allegations, saying he didn’t recall any “negative interactions.”
“I’ve been reflecting very carefully on what I remember from that incident almost 20 years ago,” he told reporters at the time. “I do not feel that I acted inappropriately in any way. But I respect the fact that someone else might have experienced that differently.
When asked why he apologized to the reporter, he said, “If I apologized later, it would be because I sensed that she was not entirely comfortable with the interaction that we had.
“I don’t want to speak for her, I don’t want to presume how she feels now. I’m responsible for my side of the interaction, which certainly —
as I said, I don’t feel was in anyway untoward. But at the same time, this lesson that we are learning — and I’ll be blunt about it —
often a man experiences an interaction as being benign, or not inappropriate, and a woman, particularly in a professional context can experience it differently. And we have to respect that, and reflect on it.”
Justin Trudeau in blackface
Justin Trudeau in blackface Photo by Screengrab
Blackface and brownface
Trudeau’s past came back to haunt him once again in 2019, when old photos surfaced of him wearing blackface and brownface. Time Magazine published a yearbook photo of Trudeau in brownface makeup and a turban at an Arabian Nights-themed party in 2001.
Justin Trudeau in brownface
Justin Trudeau in brownface Photo by Screengrab
And it wouldn’t end there. More photographs emerged, this time of Trudeau in “blackface” at a high school talent show where he sang Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O” along with video footage of his face, skin and tongue painted black and an object stuffed into the front of his jeans.
“I take responsibility for my decision to do that,” Trudeau said during the 2019 federal election campaign, when he defied the odds and won a minority government despite the photos. “It’s something that I didn’t think was racist at the time but now I recognize it was something racist to do.”
torontosun.com
The former prime minister made those at conference visibly uncomfortable with story about length of schoolgirl skirts.
Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published May 19, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
Katie Telford and Justin Trudeau at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne, Australia.
Katie Telford and Justin Trudeau at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Facebook
As if the blackface photos, the so-called Kokanee grope, and “peoplekind” weren’t enough.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau had attendees at a women’s conference squirming as he recounted a story about teaching schoolgirls who wore their “skirts too short.”
Trudeau, 54, recently spoke at the 2026 Women Deliver Conference in Melbourne, Australia, on stage with his former chief of staff, Katie Telford. But it was Trudeau’s turn to deliver the cringey, creepy story to a predominantly female audience that was visibly uncomfortable.
Trudeau recounted a story, during his time as a teacher, when he helped found a school newspaper. He said he met a male student who was “always getting corrected” about having his shirt untucked at school. The student then wrote an essay in the newspaper complaining of what he saw as a double standard, as female students at the school would regularly break the dress code by wearing their skirts too short.
“God forbid,” interjected Telford.
Read the room, for crying out loud
Undeterred, Trudeau dug himself deeper, replying, “No, no, you see, that was also the rule — you had to keep your shirt tucked in and then have the skirt to the knees. And he (the male student) said it was totally unfair that there was a double standard on applying these rules.”
“He ended up writing this essay, suggesting that maybe the predominantly male teaching staff was slightly uncomfortable pointing out to these teenage girls that their skirts were too short, and it was just awkward for a male teacher to be pointing that out,’ Trudeau said, as both Telford and the audience seemed to grow more uncomfortable by the second.
Trudeau then went all-in, adding the essay was “a really interesting perspective.”
“So, I had the student publish this, and the newspaper got shut down the very next day,” he said.
No kidding.
Justin Trudeau in Creston, B.C. in 2000.
Justin Trudeau in Creston, B.C. in 2000. Photo by Handout
The Kokanee incident
The self-declared feminist prime minister, now dating pop star Katy Perry, found himself in some trouble when an editorial from the Creston Valley Advance in British Columbia resurfaced in 2018 accusing Trudeau of groping a young reporter while visiting the town 18 years before. The incident came to be known as “The Kokanee Grope.”
“I’m sorry. If I had known you were reporting for a national newspaper, I never would have been so forward,” Trudeau reportedly said.
“It’s not a rare incident to have a young reporter, especially a female who is working for a small community newspaper, be considered an underling to their ‘more predominant’ associates and blatantly disrespected because of it,” the editorial said. “But shouldn’t the son of a former prime minister be aware of the rights and wrongs that go along with public socializing?”
Trudeau addressed the allegations, saying he didn’t recall any “negative interactions.”
“I’ve been reflecting very carefully on what I remember from that incident almost 20 years ago,” he told reporters at the time. “I do not feel that I acted inappropriately in any way. But I respect the fact that someone else might have experienced that differently.
When asked why he apologized to the reporter, he said, “If I apologized later, it would be because I sensed that she was not entirely comfortable with the interaction that we had.
“I don’t want to speak for her, I don’t want to presume how she feels now. I’m responsible for my side of the interaction, which certainly —
as I said, I don’t feel was in anyway untoward. But at the same time, this lesson that we are learning — and I’ll be blunt about it —
often a man experiences an interaction as being benign, or not inappropriate, and a woman, particularly in a professional context can experience it differently. And we have to respect that, and reflect on it.”
Justin Trudeau in blackface
Justin Trudeau in blackface Photo by Screengrab
Blackface and brownface
Trudeau’s past came back to haunt him once again in 2019, when old photos surfaced of him wearing blackface and brownface. Time Magazine published a yearbook photo of Trudeau in brownface makeup and a turban at an Arabian Nights-themed party in 2001.
Justin Trudeau in brownface
Justin Trudeau in brownface Photo by Screengrab
And it wouldn’t end there. More photographs emerged, this time of Trudeau in “blackface” at a high school talent show where he sang Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O” along with video footage of his face, skin and tongue painted black and an object stuffed into the front of his jeans.
“I take responsibility for my decision to do that,” Trudeau said during the 2019 federal election campaign, when he defied the odds and won a minority government despite the photos. “It’s something that I didn’t think was racist at the time but now I recognize it was something racist to do.”
Justin Trudeau causes squirms with schoolgirl 'short skirt' story
Former prime minister recounts story at Women Deliver conference in Australia, where attendees were visibly uncomfortable.
Nate Erskine-Smith's appeal of Liberal nomination process dismissed
Ahsanul Hafiz will continue to stand as provincial nominee for Scarborough Southwest after arbitration decision
Author of the article:Jordan Ercit
Published May 24, 2026 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 2 minute read
051226-HCP_Politics02042026_012
Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith answers questions by the journalists before heading into the caucus meeting at the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /Postmedia
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source.
Ahsanul Hafiz will continue to stand as the Ontario Liberal nominee for Scarborough Southwest after an arbitration committee dismissed an appeal of the results by a high-profile rival.
The Ontario Liberals issued a statement late Sunday night thanking chair David Zimmer and members of the panel for the “speed and rigour of their review” of allegations brought forward by leadership hopeful Nate Erskine-Smith, who finished second to Hafiz by 19 votes during the nomination process.
“I am grateful for the careful work of the arbitration committee and my team,” Hafiz said in a statement on social media. “Party staff ran a rigorous and fair nomination process and I thank all the volunteers for their hard work.
“I am focused on winning the support of voters in Scarborough Southwest and turning this riding red.”
An email seeking a comment from Erskine-Smith was not immediately returned.
Erskine-Smith urged to ‘prove’ allegations
Erskine-Smith, who finished second to Bonnie Crombie in the 2023 Ontario Liberal leadership race and has laid the groundwork for another run this year, filed his appeal on May 12 after casting doubts on the results of the nomination process days earlier, including that he had spoken with a “few scrutineers already who said they’ve never seen anything like it and it’s unreal what happened in there.
“I don’t know,” he told reporters after learning about the results, while raising concerns about voter ID issues. “It’s unfair for me to specifically speculate. I’ve got no idea. I’ve got to talk to the team, do a full debrief with the team as to what comes next in terms of it was obviously very close and we’ll see.”
The Beaches—East York MP then took up interim Liberal Leader John Fraser’s invitation to “prove it.”
The arbitration committee was tasked with determining if the meeting was called and conducted within the party’s nomination rules. The hearing also put the burden on Erskine-Smith to prove there were irregularities in how the vote was conducted and that “individuals who were ‘not entitled to vote voted'” because of these irregularities.
While the evidence and submissions were mostly kept confidential, the appeal decision posted on the Ontario Liberal website said the arbitration committee was satisfied that “none of the irregularities alleged by Mr. Erskine-Smith was an irregularity that affected the result of the election or that calls into question the integrity of the nomination process.
“The nomination rules were followed,” the decision says. “No ballots were counted that should not have been. Mr. Hafiz was the true winner of the vote and has properly been selected by the constituency association as the Ontario Liberal Party’s candidate in Scarborough Southwest.”
‘Full attention’ now on byelection: Liberals
In announcing the decision, Fraser said that they had “committed to an open and transparent nomination process — and that commitment did not waver when a challenge was filed.
“With this process now complete, our full attention turns to Scarborough Southwest,” he said.
Premier Doug Ford has yet to announce a byelection date for Scarborough Southwest after former NDP MPP Doly Begum resigned to successfully represent the riding federally for the Liberals.
torontosun.com
Ahsanul Hafiz will continue to stand as provincial nominee for Scarborough Southwest after arbitration decision
Author of the article:Jordan Ercit
Published May 24, 2026 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 2 minute read
051226-HCP_Politics02042026_012
Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith answers questions by the journalists before heading into the caucus meeting at the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /Postmedia
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source.
Ahsanul Hafiz will continue to stand as the Ontario Liberal nominee for Scarborough Southwest after an arbitration committee dismissed an appeal of the results by a high-profile rival.
The Ontario Liberals issued a statement late Sunday night thanking chair David Zimmer and members of the panel for the “speed and rigour of their review” of allegations brought forward by leadership hopeful Nate Erskine-Smith, who finished second to Hafiz by 19 votes during the nomination process.
“I am grateful for the careful work of the arbitration committee and my team,” Hafiz said in a statement on social media. “Party staff ran a rigorous and fair nomination process and I thank all the volunteers for their hard work.
“I am focused on winning the support of voters in Scarborough Southwest and turning this riding red.”
An email seeking a comment from Erskine-Smith was not immediately returned.
Erskine-Smith urged to ‘prove’ allegations
Erskine-Smith, who finished second to Bonnie Crombie in the 2023 Ontario Liberal leadership race and has laid the groundwork for another run this year, filed his appeal on May 12 after casting doubts on the results of the nomination process days earlier, including that he had spoken with a “few scrutineers already who said they’ve never seen anything like it and it’s unreal what happened in there.
“I don’t know,” he told reporters after learning about the results, while raising concerns about voter ID issues. “It’s unfair for me to specifically speculate. I’ve got no idea. I’ve got to talk to the team, do a full debrief with the team as to what comes next in terms of it was obviously very close and we’ll see.”
The Beaches—East York MP then took up interim Liberal Leader John Fraser’s invitation to “prove it.”
The arbitration committee was tasked with determining if the meeting was called and conducted within the party’s nomination rules. The hearing also put the burden on Erskine-Smith to prove there were irregularities in how the vote was conducted and that “individuals who were ‘not entitled to vote voted'” because of these irregularities.
While the evidence and submissions were mostly kept confidential, the appeal decision posted on the Ontario Liberal website said the arbitration committee was satisfied that “none of the irregularities alleged by Mr. Erskine-Smith was an irregularity that affected the result of the election or that calls into question the integrity of the nomination process.
“The nomination rules were followed,” the decision says. “No ballots were counted that should not have been. Mr. Hafiz was the true winner of the vote and has properly been selected by the constituency association as the Ontario Liberal Party’s candidate in Scarborough Southwest.”
‘Full attention’ now on byelection: Liberals
In announcing the decision, Fraser said that they had “committed to an open and transparent nomination process — and that commitment did not waver when a challenge was filed.
“With this process now complete, our full attention turns to Scarborough Southwest,” he said.
Premier Doug Ford has yet to announce a byelection date for Scarborough Southwest after former NDP MPP Doly Begum resigned to successfully represent the riding federally for the Liberals.
Nate Erskine-Smith's appeal of Liberal nomination process dismissed
Ahsanul Hafiz will continue to stand as the Ontario Liberal nominee for Scarborough Southwest after an arbitration decision. Read more.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirms she's running for re-election
’To the people of Toronto, I am in your corner. I’ve always been and always will be’
Author of the article:Gordon Anderson
Published May 25, 2026 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 3 minute read
Mayor Olivia Chow
Mayor Olivia Chow at Toronto City Hall on March 19, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun
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Putting to rest weeks of speculation, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirmed she is running for re-election this fall.
“I registered to run for re-election,” Chow said during a news conference on Monday morning. “But that does not change what I do here as the mayor.”
Chow was asked why she wants a second term as Toronto’s mayor.
“There are things that I have started that I want to continue,” she said, specifically referring to a development deal that was announced on March 30.
The city said an agreement was reached with the province and the federal government to reduce development charges on new housing across Toronto and build a waterfront transit line.
“We need to get the program going, and get the funding from the provincial and the federal government, so that we can build more housing right now,” Chow said. “If we miss the construction period this season, that is not good because, right now, 80% of the building being built is because of the city of Toronto’s incentives and we need funding now.”
Fellow mayoral candidate Brad Bradford, who has been an outspoken critic of Chow, had claimed she has been campaigning on the taxpayer’s dime.
“For 24 days, since I entered this race on May 1, the mayor has held event after event, each one costing Toronto taxpayers thousands of dollars they did not consent to spend on a campaign,” the Beaches-East York councillor said in an email to her campaign confirmation. “That was not right then. It is not right now. And I am glad it is over.”
“He is wrong,” Chow said, when asked about Bradford’s statement.
According to the city’s website, 16 candidates for mayor have filed their paperwork. The nomination process will remain open until Aug. 21 and the election is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Bradford was one of eight candidates who registered when the nomination window opened on May 1.
Through the front door
Chow won the election in June 2023 with support from approximately 37% of those who did vote, the lowest turnout for a mayor in the city’s history.
A mayoral byelection was launched after John Tory stepped down in February 2023 over his affair with a staff member during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was against the city council’s code of conduct.
In the fall election, incumbent Chow plans on going through the front door in a bid to become the city’s 67th mayor. In the meantime, she said the business of city government will continue.
“There’s plenty of time to campaign in the fall,” she said. “Right now, I’m going to spend my time serving the people of Toronto. I registered (Monday) to say one thing: To the people of Toronto, I am in your corner. I’ve always been and always will be.”
Premier Ford chimes in
Ontario Premier Doug Ford held the middle ground when asked for his comments about Chow seeking re-election.
“I really like the mayor, I get along with everyone and I don’t care what political stripe they come from,” Ford said Monday morning. “I know exactly where Olivia is coming from, and she knows where I am coming from. We get along very well.
“We will see what happens during the election. If she wins I am going to work with her. I look forward to it.”
Ford was also asked if he was endorsing any of the municipal candidates.
“I am staying out of that,” he said.
ganderson@postmedia.com
toronto.ca
toronto.ca
torontosun.com
’To the people of Toronto, I am in your corner. I’ve always been and always will be’
Author of the article:Gordon Anderson
Published May 25, 2026 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 3 minute read
Mayor Olivia Chow
Mayor Olivia Chow at Toronto City Hall on March 19, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun
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Putting to rest weeks of speculation, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirmed she is running for re-election this fall.
“I registered to run for re-election,” Chow said during a news conference on Monday morning. “But that does not change what I do here as the mayor.”
Chow was asked why she wants a second term as Toronto’s mayor.
“There are things that I have started that I want to continue,” she said, specifically referring to a development deal that was announced on March 30.
The city said an agreement was reached with the province and the federal government to reduce development charges on new housing across Toronto and build a waterfront transit line.
“We need to get the program going, and get the funding from the provincial and the federal government, so that we can build more housing right now,” Chow said. “If we miss the construction period this season, that is not good because, right now, 80% of the building being built is because of the city of Toronto’s incentives and we need funding now.”
Fellow mayoral candidate Brad Bradford, who has been an outspoken critic of Chow, had claimed she has been campaigning on the taxpayer’s dime.
“For 24 days, since I entered this race on May 1, the mayor has held event after event, each one costing Toronto taxpayers thousands of dollars they did not consent to spend on a campaign,” the Beaches-East York councillor said in an email to her campaign confirmation. “That was not right then. It is not right now. And I am glad it is over.”
“He is wrong,” Chow said, when asked about Bradford’s statement.
According to the city’s website, 16 candidates for mayor have filed their paperwork. The nomination process will remain open until Aug. 21 and the election is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Bradford was one of eight candidates who registered when the nomination window opened on May 1.
Through the front door
Chow won the election in June 2023 with support from approximately 37% of those who did vote, the lowest turnout for a mayor in the city’s history.
A mayoral byelection was launched after John Tory stepped down in February 2023 over his affair with a staff member during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was against the city council’s code of conduct.
In the fall election, incumbent Chow plans on going through the front door in a bid to become the city’s 67th mayor. In the meantime, she said the business of city government will continue.
“There’s plenty of time to campaign in the fall,” she said. “Right now, I’m going to spend my time serving the people of Toronto. I registered (Monday) to say one thing: To the people of Toronto, I am in your corner. I’ve always been and always will be.”
Premier Ford chimes in
Ontario Premier Doug Ford held the middle ground when asked for his comments about Chow seeking re-election.
“I really like the mayor, I get along with everyone and I don’t care what political stripe they come from,” Ford said Monday morning. “I know exactly where Olivia is coming from, and she knows where I am coming from. We get along very well.
“We will see what happens during the election. If she wins I am going to work with her. I look forward to it.”
Ford was also asked if he was endorsing any of the municipal candidates.
“I am staying out of that,” he said.
ganderson@postmedia.com
2026 Municipal Election List of Candidates & Third Party Advertisers
The following list contains website links provided by candidates and third party advertisers to the City Clerk. The City Clerk provides these links to the public strictly as a convenience to promote citizen involvement in the municipal election. The City Clerk does not operate or control any...
toronto.ca
Landmark multi-billion-dollar partnership: City of Toronto joins with Government of Canada and Province of Ontario in prioritizing housing and transit
News Release March 30, 2026 Today, the City of Toronto joined the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to announce a landmark multi-billion-dollar deal to reduce development charges on new housing across Toronto and build the Waterfront East Transit, a line that will enable more than...
toronto.ca
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirms she's running for re-election
Chow won a 2023 byelection after John Tory stepped down, getting 37% of those who did vote, the lowest voter turnout in history. Read more.
Ex-MP adds new wrinkle to Ontario Liberal leadership race
Navdeep Bains launched much-speculated campaign Monday with 16-second video on social media
Author of the article:Jordan Ercit
Published May 25, 2026 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 3 minute read
Navdeep Bains
Canada's new Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains (L) is congratulated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Nov. 4, 2015. Photo by CHRIS WATTIE /Getty Images
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source.
Less than 24 hours after Ontario Liberal leadership contender Nathaniel Eskine-Smith had his appeal of the Scarborough Southwest nomination process dismissed, another longtime federal MP is joining the race to succeed Bonnie Crombie.
Navdeep Bains, who served as the minister of innovation, science and economic development under Justin Trudeau before leaving Parliament in 2021, launched his much-speculated leadership campaign Monday with a 16-second video on social media.
The video contains no quotes and simply shows Bains walking into a classroom, sitting on a chair and then rolling up his sleeves.
“Let’s get to work,” a graphic says at the end of the video, as well as that the video was authorized by the official agent of the Navdeep Bains leadership campaign.
Bains’ campaign website, meanwhile, had little to offer other than “coming soon,” as well as links asking visitors to get involved or donate.
A message seeking a comment from Bains or his campaign team, including why he was returning to politics after a more than five-year hiatus, was not immediately returned.
The Ontario Liberals had yet to reply to an email asking if Bains was confirmed as an official candidate.
For now, here is an updated look at the Ontario Liberal leadership race and Bains’ background in politics:
Toronto-area Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is among those considering running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. Toronto-area Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.
Toronto-area Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is among those considering running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. Photo by Elliot Ferguson /Postmedia Network
Shifting campaign dynamics
The Ontario Liberals will select their next leader in the fall after former Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie resigned in January after less than three years on the job, during which she failed to win a seat at Queen’s Park.
Ottawa South MP John Fraser was named the interim leader for a third time in the wake of Crombie’s departure, but once again will not be seeking the full-time gig.
Other contenders have stepped up since then, including Erskine-Smith, Etobicoke—Lakeshore MPP Lee Fairclough and Dylan Marando, who has worked behind the scenes at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill.
Erskine-Smith’s odds, however, took a hit this weekend when the Beaches—East York MP had his appeal of the Scarborough Southwest nomination process dismissed. Even before the result of the appeal was announced, he told CTV’s Power Play earlier this month that a leadership bid was “much less likely” now than before the nomination vote.
Ahsanul Hafiz will instead represent the riding in a byelection that has yet to be announced by Premier Doug Ford.
Who is Navdeep Bains?
Bains joined Parliament in 2004 as the MP for Mississauga—Brampton South, serving briefly as the parliamentary secretary to prime minister Paul Martin before losing his seat to the Conservatives’ Eve Adams in 2011.
He was back on Parliament Hill four years later, though, as the MP for Mississauga—Malton from 2015 to 2021, spending most of that time as Trudeau’s innovation, science and economic development/industry minister.
Since leaving politics, he has worked as an executive at CIBC and Rogers, where he was reportedly instrumental in getting the company’s merger with Shaw approved.
The Toronto Sun’s Brian Lilley, meanwhile, reported last month via sources that Bains had already assembled a team for the leadership race and was being encouraged to run by current and former GTA Liberals.
What’s next?
The Liberals will hold their ranked-ballot leadership vote online from Nov. 9 to Nov. 20 with the results being announced at an in-person event the following day. The location of the event has not been announced.
The party had said that debates and all-candidate events were supposed to be held starting this spring, but no dates or locations had been posted on the party’s website and that was with less than a month to go until summer.
leadership.ontarioliberal.ca
ourcommons.ca
navdeepbains.ca
torontosun.com
Navdeep Bains launched much-speculated campaign Monday with 16-second video on social media
Author of the article:Jordan Ercit
Published May 25, 2026 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 3 minute read
Navdeep Bains
Canada's new Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains (L) is congratulated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Nov. 4, 2015. Photo by CHRIS WATTIE /Getty Images
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source.
Less than 24 hours after Ontario Liberal leadership contender Nathaniel Eskine-Smith had his appeal of the Scarborough Southwest nomination process dismissed, another longtime federal MP is joining the race to succeed Bonnie Crombie.
Navdeep Bains, who served as the minister of innovation, science and economic development under Justin Trudeau before leaving Parliament in 2021, launched his much-speculated leadership campaign Monday with a 16-second video on social media.
The video contains no quotes and simply shows Bains walking into a classroom, sitting on a chair and then rolling up his sleeves.
“Let’s get to work,” a graphic says at the end of the video, as well as that the video was authorized by the official agent of the Navdeep Bains leadership campaign.
Bains’ campaign website, meanwhile, had little to offer other than “coming soon,” as well as links asking visitors to get involved or donate.
A message seeking a comment from Bains or his campaign team, including why he was returning to politics after a more than five-year hiatus, was not immediately returned.
The Ontario Liberals had yet to reply to an email asking if Bains was confirmed as an official candidate.
For now, here is an updated look at the Ontario Liberal leadership race and Bains’ background in politics:
Toronto-area Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is among those considering running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. Toronto-area Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.
Toronto-area Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is among those considering running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. Photo by Elliot Ferguson /Postmedia Network
Shifting campaign dynamics
The Ontario Liberals will select their next leader in the fall after former Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie resigned in January after less than three years on the job, during which she failed to win a seat at Queen’s Park.
Ottawa South MP John Fraser was named the interim leader for a third time in the wake of Crombie’s departure, but once again will not be seeking the full-time gig.
Other contenders have stepped up since then, including Erskine-Smith, Etobicoke—Lakeshore MPP Lee Fairclough and Dylan Marando, who has worked behind the scenes at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill.
Erskine-Smith’s odds, however, took a hit this weekend when the Beaches—East York MP had his appeal of the Scarborough Southwest nomination process dismissed. Even before the result of the appeal was announced, he told CTV’s Power Play earlier this month that a leadership bid was “much less likely” now than before the nomination vote.
Ahsanul Hafiz will instead represent the riding in a byelection that has yet to be announced by Premier Doug Ford.
Who is Navdeep Bains?
Bains joined Parliament in 2004 as the MP for Mississauga—Brampton South, serving briefly as the parliamentary secretary to prime minister Paul Martin before losing his seat to the Conservatives’ Eve Adams in 2011.
He was back on Parliament Hill four years later, though, as the MP for Mississauga—Malton from 2015 to 2021, spending most of that time as Trudeau’s innovation, science and economic development/industry minister.
Since leaving politics, he has worked as an executive at CIBC and Rogers, where he was reportedly instrumental in getting the company’s merger with Shaw approved.
The Toronto Sun’s Brian Lilley, meanwhile, reported last month via sources that Bains had already assembled a team for the leadership race and was being encouraged to run by current and former GTA Liberals.
What’s next?
The Liberals will hold their ranked-ballot leadership vote online from Nov. 9 to Nov. 20 with the results being announced at an in-person event the following day. The location of the event has not been announced.
The party had said that debates and all-candidate events were supposed to be held starting this spring, but no dates or locations had been posted on the party’s website and that was with less than a month to go until summer.
Details | Get Involved Today – Vote in 2026 Leadership — Ontario Liberal Leadership 2026
Learn about the Ontario Liberal Leadership 2026 election process, voting details, key dates, and how members can participate to shape Ontario's future.
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Roles - Hon. Navdeep Bains - Current and Past - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada
Roles - Hon. Navdeep Bains - Current and Past - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada
Coming Soon - Navdeep Bains Leadership Campaign
EN/FR Coming Soon Get Involved Donate LET'S GET TO WORK Authorized by the official agent for the Navdeep Bains Leadership Campaign.
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NAVDEEP IN, NATE OUT? Ex-MP adds new wrinkle to Ontario Liberal leadership race
Navdeep Bains launched his much-speculated leadership campaign Monday with a 16-second video on social media. Read more.
Caroline Mulroney announces she's quitting Ford government
The daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney cited her father's death in her decision
Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published May 25, 2026 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 6 minute read
Caroline Mulroney,
Caroline Mulroney, minister of Francophone Affairs, visits Place des Arts in Sudbury during a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag on September 25, 2025. Photo by John Lappa /Postmedia
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source
Caroline Mulroney is leaving the Doug Ford government.
The MPP for York-Simcoe, Treasury Board president, and minister of Francophone Affairs confirmed in a post on X Monday morning that she plans to “resign from Cabinet and from my seat in the Ontario Legislature, effective June 5.” Mulroney said she informed the premier of her decision on Sunday.
The daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney cited her father’s death as part of the reasons behind her career move.
“Two years ago, I lost my father. Last year, my husband Andrew and I became empty nesters. These are the kinds of moments that clarify what matters,” Mulroney wrote. “Together, they have led me to the conclusion that now is the right time to step back from elected life and begin a new chapter, one I am genuinely excited about.”
Mulroney was elected to provincial parliament eight years ago and called it “one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
An image of Caroline Mulroney and Doug Ford shared by the premier on X.
An image of Caroline Mulroney and Doug Ford shared by the premier on X.
What Doug Ford said
In a post on X, Ford said “Ontario is lucky to have benefited from Caroline Mulroney’s calm and steady leadership in Cabinet, having served as attorney general, minister of transportation and most recently minister of francophone affairs and president of Treasury Board.
“Caroline leaves behind a record she can be immensely proud of: A historic funding agreement for the largest expansion of public transit in North America, disciplined fiscal policies that are helping to keep our economy competitive while investing in critical frontline services and a strong and thriving Francophone community across the province, to name only a few.”
Ford called her a “close personal friend” and said he “will miss seeing her sitting across from me at the Cabinet table and in caucus meetings.”
Ford added: “Politics is in Caroline’s blood. The Ontario PC Party and our conservative movement will no doubt continue to benefit from her ideas and ideals. Here’s to an exciting next chapter for Caroline and her family.”
Ford was challenged at a news conference on Monday about Mulroney’s departure, with reporters asking the premier if it hurt the image of the provincial cabinet. Ford said it’s all about Mulroney increasing her family time.
“She’s won three elections, served eight years, now her kids are out at college and university and she wants to spend time with the family,” he said. “There’s no other ‘anything.’ She’s gonna be part of Team Ontario, Team PC all the way to the next election.”
Ford added that he doesn’t expect Mulroney to move into federal politics.
Following Mulroney’s departure, the premier said he tapped Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy to take over for her as interim president of the Treasury Board after her departure on June 5. Ford didn’t say if this would include a larger cabinet shuffle later on in the summer.
“We’ll just run though the different positions and we’ll go from there,” Ford said. “There’s no one I want better watching the money than Peter. I always joke around the guy’s as tight as skin on a grape.”
The rest of Mulroney’s statement
“Thank you for your trust. When I first put my name forward in 2017, I made you a simple promise: to listen, to care, and to stand up for you. I have tried to honour that promise every single day.
“I am proud of what we accomplished together: building the Bradford Bypass, the protection of the North Gwillimbury Forest, safeguarding Lake Simcoe from additional wastewater while securing a new phosphorus reduction facility and advancing the new acute care hospital for Southlake Health in East Gwillimbury. None of it happened by accident. It happened because you were engaged, you were vocal, and you held me accountable.
“To the Mayors and Councils across York-Simcoe, thank you for your partnership and your friendship. And to the farmers of the Holland Marsh: you are among the most hardworking, innovative, and dedicated people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. My father used to say that Canada is a country of small towns and big dreams. York-Simcoe is proof of that every day.
“To Premier Ford-It has been an honour to serve in your Cabinet. Through the pandemic, your steady leadership gave Ontarians confidence when they needed it most. When trade pressures threatened our economy and our workers, you stood firm. I am proud to have worked with you on a number of files, including delivering a historic transit deal with the federal government for the City of Toronto and Region of York, moving forward with critical highway and transit infrastructure across the province, establishing Justice Centres in Ontario, achieving historic advancements for Ontario’s Francophone community and providing steady fiscal stewardship through a period of significant economic uncertainty. Thank you for your trust, your friendship, and your unwavering commitment to this province. And keep working on your French. I know you can do it!
“To Ontario’s Francophone community It has been a privilege to work alongside you. From establishing a Francophone university to modernizing the French Language Services Act, and so much in between, we accomplished things that will endure. Ontario’s Francophone community is not a constituency to be managed. It is a vital, vibrant part of who we are as a province and as a country. I look forward to finding new ways to contribute to its flourishing in the years ahead.
“To the York-Simcoe PC riding association – I owe my electoral success to your hard work. To all association members, past and present, including my riding presidents, thank you for your hard work, your enthusiasm and your unwavering support.
“To my Caucus and Cabinet colleagues It did not take me long to understand why my father loved his caucus so much. We share unique moments and challenges that only we understand. We are a family, and I will miss working with you every day.
To my constituency and ministerial teams Your professionalism, judgment, and dedication made everything possible. The work we did together, and the standard of excellence you held yourselves to, will stay with me. I am so proud of what we accomplished together, and none of it would have been possible without each of you. Thank you.
“To the Ontario Public Service – From the Secretary of Cabinet to the analyst presenting their first Treasury Board briefing, I have been consistently impressed by the talent and dedication of the people who make our government function. Thank you for your fearless counsel and faithful service.
“To my family-None of this happens without you. Andrew, you are the love of my life and my greatest champion. You encouraged me to run in the first place and have been beside me every day since. To our incredible children, watching you step into your own lives with confidence and purpose made this the right moment to begin a new chapter of my own. I love you more than words can say. To my amazing mother, who continues to inspire me, and to my brothers, who have never stopped cheering, thank you.
“There is an old line in politics that the worst day in elected life is better than the best day outside of it. I’m not sure that’s true, but I do know that I will miss the people I have worked with over the past eight years more than you know. The people I have worked alongside, including more than a few friends on the opposition benches, have made me a better person. The energy of Queen’s Park is one I hope I will carry with me forever.
“Theodore Roosevelt said it best: “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Serving the people of York-Simcoe and Ontario has been exactly that.”
– with files from Cynthia McLeod
torontosun.com
The daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney cited her father's death in her decision
Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published May 25, 2026 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 6 minute read
Caroline Mulroney,
Caroline Mulroney, minister of Francophone Affairs, visits Place des Arts in Sudbury during a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag on September 25, 2025. Photo by John Lappa /Postmedia
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source
Caroline Mulroney is leaving the Doug Ford government.
The MPP for York-Simcoe, Treasury Board president, and minister of Francophone Affairs confirmed in a post on X Monday morning that she plans to “resign from Cabinet and from my seat in the Ontario Legislature, effective June 5.” Mulroney said she informed the premier of her decision on Sunday.
The daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney cited her father’s death as part of the reasons behind her career move.
“Two years ago, I lost my father. Last year, my husband Andrew and I became empty nesters. These are the kinds of moments that clarify what matters,” Mulroney wrote. “Together, they have led me to the conclusion that now is the right time to step back from elected life and begin a new chapter, one I am genuinely excited about.”
Mulroney was elected to provincial parliament eight years ago and called it “one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
An image of Caroline Mulroney and Doug Ford shared by the premier on X.
An image of Caroline Mulroney and Doug Ford shared by the premier on X.
What Doug Ford said
In a post on X, Ford said “Ontario is lucky to have benefited from Caroline Mulroney’s calm and steady leadership in Cabinet, having served as attorney general, minister of transportation and most recently minister of francophone affairs and president of Treasury Board.
“Caroline leaves behind a record she can be immensely proud of: A historic funding agreement for the largest expansion of public transit in North America, disciplined fiscal policies that are helping to keep our economy competitive while investing in critical frontline services and a strong and thriving Francophone community across the province, to name only a few.”
Ford called her a “close personal friend” and said he “will miss seeing her sitting across from me at the Cabinet table and in caucus meetings.”
Ford added: “Politics is in Caroline’s blood. The Ontario PC Party and our conservative movement will no doubt continue to benefit from her ideas and ideals. Here’s to an exciting next chapter for Caroline and her family.”
Ford was challenged at a news conference on Monday about Mulroney’s departure, with reporters asking the premier if it hurt the image of the provincial cabinet. Ford said it’s all about Mulroney increasing her family time.
“She’s won three elections, served eight years, now her kids are out at college and university and she wants to spend time with the family,” he said. “There’s no other ‘anything.’ She’s gonna be part of Team Ontario, Team PC all the way to the next election.”
Ford added that he doesn’t expect Mulroney to move into federal politics.
Following Mulroney’s departure, the premier said he tapped Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy to take over for her as interim president of the Treasury Board after her departure on June 5. Ford didn’t say if this would include a larger cabinet shuffle later on in the summer.
“We’ll just run though the different positions and we’ll go from there,” Ford said. “There’s no one I want better watching the money than Peter. I always joke around the guy’s as tight as skin on a grape.”
The rest of Mulroney’s statement
“Thank you for your trust. When I first put my name forward in 2017, I made you a simple promise: to listen, to care, and to stand up for you. I have tried to honour that promise every single day.
“I am proud of what we accomplished together: building the Bradford Bypass, the protection of the North Gwillimbury Forest, safeguarding Lake Simcoe from additional wastewater while securing a new phosphorus reduction facility and advancing the new acute care hospital for Southlake Health in East Gwillimbury. None of it happened by accident. It happened because you were engaged, you were vocal, and you held me accountable.
“To the Mayors and Councils across York-Simcoe, thank you for your partnership and your friendship. And to the farmers of the Holland Marsh: you are among the most hardworking, innovative, and dedicated people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. My father used to say that Canada is a country of small towns and big dreams. York-Simcoe is proof of that every day.
“To Premier Ford-It has been an honour to serve in your Cabinet. Through the pandemic, your steady leadership gave Ontarians confidence when they needed it most. When trade pressures threatened our economy and our workers, you stood firm. I am proud to have worked with you on a number of files, including delivering a historic transit deal with the federal government for the City of Toronto and Region of York, moving forward with critical highway and transit infrastructure across the province, establishing Justice Centres in Ontario, achieving historic advancements for Ontario’s Francophone community and providing steady fiscal stewardship through a period of significant economic uncertainty. Thank you for your trust, your friendship, and your unwavering commitment to this province. And keep working on your French. I know you can do it!
“To Ontario’s Francophone community It has been a privilege to work alongside you. From establishing a Francophone university to modernizing the French Language Services Act, and so much in between, we accomplished things that will endure. Ontario’s Francophone community is not a constituency to be managed. It is a vital, vibrant part of who we are as a province and as a country. I look forward to finding new ways to contribute to its flourishing in the years ahead.
“To the York-Simcoe PC riding association – I owe my electoral success to your hard work. To all association members, past and present, including my riding presidents, thank you for your hard work, your enthusiasm and your unwavering support.
“To my Caucus and Cabinet colleagues It did not take me long to understand why my father loved his caucus so much. We share unique moments and challenges that only we understand. We are a family, and I will miss working with you every day.
To my constituency and ministerial teams Your professionalism, judgment, and dedication made everything possible. The work we did together, and the standard of excellence you held yourselves to, will stay with me. I am so proud of what we accomplished together, and none of it would have been possible without each of you. Thank you.
“To the Ontario Public Service – From the Secretary of Cabinet to the analyst presenting their first Treasury Board briefing, I have been consistently impressed by the talent and dedication of the people who make our government function. Thank you for your fearless counsel and faithful service.
“To my family-None of this happens without you. Andrew, you are the love of my life and my greatest champion. You encouraged me to run in the first place and have been beside me every day since. To our incredible children, watching you step into your own lives with confidence and purpose made this the right moment to begin a new chapter of my own. I love you more than words can say. To my amazing mother, who continues to inspire me, and to my brothers, who have never stopped cheering, thank you.
“There is an old line in politics that the worst day in elected life is better than the best day outside of it. I’m not sure that’s true, but I do know that I will miss the people I have worked with over the past eight years more than you know. The people I have worked alongside, including more than a few friends on the opposition benches, have made me a better person. The energy of Queen’s Park is one I hope I will carry with me forever.
“Theodore Roosevelt said it best: “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Serving the people of York-Simcoe and Ontario has been exactly that.”
– with files from Cynthia McLeod
Caroline Mulroney announces she's quitting Ford government
The daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney cited her father's death in her decision. Find out more.
The gravy train has been very very good to her .Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirms she's running for re-election
’To the people of Toronto, I am in your corner. I’ve always been and always will be’
Author of the article:Gordon Anderson
Published May 25, 2026 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 3 minute read
Mayor Olivia Chow
Mayor Olivia Chow at Toronto City Hall on March 19, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source
Putting to rest weeks of speculation, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirmed she is running for re-election this fall.
“I registered to run for re-election,” Chow said during a news conference on Monday morning. “But that does not change what I do here as the mayor.”
Chow was asked why she wants a second term as Toronto’s mayor.
“There are things that I have started that I want to continue,” she said, specifically referring to a development deal that was announced on March 30.
The city said an agreement was reached with the province and the federal government to reduce development charges on new housing across Toronto and build a waterfront transit line.
“We need to get the program going, and get the funding from the provincial and the federal government, so that we can build more housing right now,” Chow said. “If we miss the construction period this season, that is not good because, right now, 80% of the building being built is because of the city of Toronto’s incentives and we need funding now.”
Fellow mayoral candidate Brad Bradford, who has been an outspoken critic of Chow, had claimed she has been campaigning on the taxpayer’s dime.
“For 24 days, since I entered this race on May 1, the mayor has held event after event, each one costing Toronto taxpayers thousands of dollars they did not consent to spend on a campaign,” the Beaches-East York councillor said in an email to her campaign confirmation. “That was not right then. It is not right now. And I am glad it is over.”
“He is wrong,” Chow said, when asked about Bradford’s statement.
According to the city’s website, 16 candidates for mayor have filed their paperwork. The nomination process will remain open until Aug. 21 and the election is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Bradford was one of eight candidates who registered when the nomination window opened on May 1.
Through the front door
Chow won the election in June 2023 with support from approximately 37% of those who did vote, the lowest turnout for a mayor in the city’s history.
A mayoral byelection was launched after John Tory stepped down in February 2023 over his affair with a staff member during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was against the city council’s code of conduct.
In the fall election, incumbent Chow plans on going through the front door in a bid to become the city’s 67th mayor. In the meantime, she said the business of city government will continue.
“There’s plenty of time to campaign in the fall,” she said. “Right now, I’m going to spend my time serving the people of Toronto. I registered (Monday) to say one thing: To the people of Toronto, I am in your corner. I’ve always been and always will be.”
Premier Ford chimes in
Ontario Premier Doug Ford held the middle ground when asked for his comments about Chow seeking re-election.
“I really like the mayor, I get along with everyone and I don’t care what political stripe they come from,” Ford said Monday morning. “I know exactly where Olivia is coming from, and she knows where I am coming from. We get along very well.
“We will see what happens during the election. If she wins I am going to work with her. I look forward to it.”
Ford was also asked if he was endorsing any of the municipal candidates.
“I am staying out of that,” he said.
ganderson@postmedia.com
2026 Municipal Election List of Candidates & Third Party Advertisers
The following list contains website links provided by candidates and third party advertisers to the City Clerk. The City Clerk provides these links to the public strictly as a convenience to promote citizen involvement in the municipal election. The City Clerk does not operate or control any...Landmark multi-billion-dollar partnership: City of Toronto joins with Government of Canada and Province of Ontario in prioritizing housing and transit
News Release March 30, 2026 Today, the City of Toronto joined the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to announce a landmark multi-billion-dollar deal to reduce development charges on new housing across Toronto and build the Waterfront East Transit, a line that will enable more than...Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow confirms she's running for re-election
Chow won a 2023 byelection after John Tory stepped down, getting 37% of those who did vote, the lowest voter turnout in history. Read more.
Finally got rid of one asshole:
Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault to resign: sources
Hopefully the other 13 follow suit . That would create an interesting fall .
Mr. Guilbeault has already previously resigned from Mr. Carney’s cabinet over his disagreement with the government’s energy accord with Alberta and its dismantling of marquee (and nationally crippling in hindsight) climate policies from the Trudeau era.
Mr. Guilbeault’s departure from the Liberal caucus wouldn’t change the balance of power in the House, but it would weaken the already-thin majority that Mr. Carney obtained through floor-crossings and by-elections that were held in April.http://apple.news/AHy7RpgpDRdue-edyZSDLpA
Apparently, the reviews were wicked!!Xavier Trudeau's halftime show panned on social media: 'He embarrassed himself'
Xavier Trudeau has a long hill to climb if he wants to fill arenas like his dad's pop star girlfriend Katy Perry. Read more.
