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Bonnie Crombie

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Bonnie Crombie
Crombie in 2017
Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
Assumed office
December 2, 2023
Preceded byJohn Fraser (interim)
6th Mayor of Mississauga
In office
December 1, 2014 – January 12, 2024
Preceded byHazel McCallion
Succeeded byCarolyn Parrish
Mississauga City Councillor
In office
September 26, 2011 – December 1, 2014
Preceded byEve Adams
Succeeded byCarolyn Parrish
ConstituencyWard 5 (Britannia Woods-Malton)
Member of Parliament
for Mississauga—Streetsville
In office
October 14, 2008 – May 2, 2011
Preceded byWajid Khan
Succeeded byBrad Butt
Personal details
Born
Bonnie Stack

(1960-02-05) February 5, 1960 (age 64)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyOntario Liberal
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Brian Crombie
(m. 1984; div. 2020)
Children3
Residence(s)Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater
Profession
  • Businesswoman
  • politician
Signature
Websitewww.bonnieforontario.ca

Bonnie Crombie (née Stack; born February 5, 1960) is a Canadian politician who has been the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party since December 2, 2023.

She previously served as the sixth mayor of Mississauga from December 1, 2014, until January 12, 2024, and as the member of Parliament (MP) for Mississauga—Streetsville from 2008 to 2011, sitting as a Liberal. From 2011 to 2014, she held the position of councillor for Ward 5 on Mississauga City Council and was a member of the Peel Regional Council. Crombie was elected as the mayor of Mississauga in the 2014 municipal election. She ran in the 2023 leadership election of the Ontario Liberal Party and won on the third ballot. She resigned as mayor on January 12, 2024, in order to focus on her leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, triggering the 2024 Mississauga mayoral by-election.

Background

[edit]

Bonnie Stack was born to Polish immigrants Veronica Sawarna (née Sega) and Ed Stack in Toronto, Ontario, in 1960. When Bonnie was three her parents separated, and she and her mother relocated to her grandparents' large home in Toronto's High Park neighbourhood.[1] When Crombie was nine, her mother remarried to Michael Sawarna, who adopted Bonnie who took his surname. The family settled in Etobicoke, where Crombie attended Michael Power/St. Joseph High School.[1][2] Crombie describes her late stepfather as a “solid, hard-working, decent, honest man, and a churchgoer. We became very close. He was my father.”[1]

In 1982, she graduated from St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and international relations. Later, in 1992, she earned her Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business.[1]

Before venturing into politics, Crombie worked as a marketing manager for McDonald's Canada and the Walt Disney Company and later worked as manager of government relations for the Insurance Bureau of Canada.[3]

She married Brian Crombie, former-CFO of Biovail Corp. and the Ottawa Senators,[4][5][6] in 1984, with whom she has three children Alex, Jonathan and Natasha.[1] The couple divorced in 2020.[7]

Federal politics (2008–2011)

[edit]

Crombie was elected as the MP for Mississauga—Streetsville in the 2008 Canadian federal election, defeating incumbent MP Wajid Khan, who had previously crossed the floor from the Liberal Party to join the Conservative Party.[8]

Following her election, she served as co-chair of the Liberal Caucus Outreach Committee alongside Justin Trudeau[9] and took on the role of the Liberal Party critic for Crown corporations under leader Michael Ignatieff.[10]

In the 2011 federal election, Crombie was defeated by Conservative candidate Brad Butt; Butt received 43.8 per cent of the vote to Crombie's 36.9.[11]

Municipal politics (2011–2024)

[edit]

On September 19, 2011, Crombie secured a seat on Mississauga City Council through a by-election, succeeding Eve Adams as Councillor for Ward 5. She won by a margin of slightly over 200 votes, defeating Carolyn Parrish and Eve Adams's ex-husband, Peter.[12] On December 12, 2012, Crombie faced charges related to alleged violations of election finance rules from her councillor run,[13] but these charges were withdrawn in February 2013 after the Crown determined that financials needed formal auditing before any charges could be considered.[14]

After Hazel McCallion, the long-serving mayor of Mississauga, retired, the 2014 mayoral election became the city's first genuinely competitive race in years.[15] Crombie, along with former member of both provincial and federal parliaments Steve Mahoney and others, declared their candidacies.[16] Despite Mahoney's narrow lead in polls for much of 2014, McCallion's endorsement of Crombie on October 12 shifted the dynamics, giving Crombie a 25-point lead over Mahoney.[17][18] In the election, Crombie secured victory with 63.5 per cent of the vote.[19]

Crombie announced her bid for re-election as mayor on October 27, 2017[20] and emerged victorious in the 2018 mayoral election with 77 per cent of the vote.[21] She secured her third term in the 2022 mayoral election by another wide margin.[22][23]

Throughout her mayoral tenure, Crombie advocated for the dissolution of the Region of Peel, the upper-tier municipality of which Mississauga is part.[24] In 2023, the provincial government of Doug Ford supported the split.[25][26]

During a Liberal leadership debate on The Agenda with Steve Paikin, hosted by TVO on November 15, 2023, Crombie declared that she would not seek re-election in 2026, concluding her tenure as the mayor of Mississauga after three terms. She later stated that she was likely to run for MPP in the 2026 provincial election.[27]

After winning the 2023 leadership election of the Ontario Liberal Party, Crombie announced on December 13 that she would resign as Mississauga mayor, effective January 12, 2024, after completing the city's and Peel Region's budgets before stepping down.[28][29] She was succeeded as mayor by Carolyn Parrish.

Provincial politics (2023–present)

[edit]

In early 2023, media reports, citing sources within the party, speculated that Crombie was contemplating a run in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election scheduled for December. Her active participation was noted during the Ontario Liberal Party's annual general meeting in March 2023 and the Liberal Party of Canada's national convention in May 2023 in Ottawa.[30][31][32]

On May 23, 2023, Crombie confirmed the speculation by announcing the formation of an exploratory committee.[33] On June 14, she officially launched her campaign at an event in Mississauga.[34] She took an unpaid leave of absence from her role as mayor of Mississauga starting October 7.[35] However, she returned on November 27 to participate in the city's budget process.[36]

Crombie was considered the front-runner in the Liberal leadership race.[37][38] She ran on a pledge to make life more affordable, strengthen Ontario's healthcare system, build housing and infrastructure, improving the public education system, and fighting climate change.[39] She was elected party leader at the December 2, 2023, on the third ballot.[40] She resigned as mayor on January 12, 2024.[41][42]

Parm Gill, the Ontario Minister of Red Tape Reduction, announced his resignation from the Ontario Legislature on January 25, 2024, thereby opening up the provincial seat of Milton. On February 8, Crombie stated in a Global News interview that she was "seriously considering" running for the vacant seat.[43] It was later announced that Crombie would not seek the seat in Milton, but Galen Naidoo Harris, son of former Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris, would.[44] Galen Naidoo Harris went on to lose the election by 2,407 votes to Zee Hamid.[45]

Crombie announced on Monday, March 18, 2024, that should she become premier after the 2026 election, she will refrain from implementing a provincial carbon tax as part of her climate policy,[46][47] diverging from the approach of Trudeau and the federal Liberals.[48] The next day, she declined to comment on a proposed federal carbon tax supported by the Liberal Party of Canada, saying "I'm not here to tell the federal government how to do their job."[49]

On August 21, 2024, the Ontario Liberal Party announced their keynote speakers for their annual general meeting that included former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and former Canadian Health Minister Dr. Jane Philpott. This move is seen by many as another attempt to distance the party and its leader from the unpopular federal Liberals and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[50][51]

Electoral record

[edit]

Ontario Liberal Party leadership election

[edit]
2023 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election[52]
Candidate 1st round 2nd round 3rd round
Points Votes Points +/- Votes +/- Points +/- Votes +/-
Bonnie Crombie 5,559
42.96%
9,314
41.07%
6,047
46.73%
488
3.77%
10,176
45.40%
862
4.33%
6,911
53.40%
864
6.67%
11,325
52.35%
1,149
6.95%
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith 3,320
25.66%
6,083
26.82%
3,792
29.30%
472
3.64%
6,944
30.99%
861
4.17%
6,029
46.59%
2,237
17.29%
10,307
47.65%
3,363
16.66%
Yasir Naqvi 2,760
21.33%
4,705
20.75%
3,101
23.96%
341
2.63%
5,294
23.62%
589
2.87%
Eliminated
Ted Hsu 1,300
10.05%
2,578
11.36%
Eliminated
Total 12,940 22,680 12,940 0 22,414 -266 12,940 0 21,632 -782

Municipal

[edit]
2022 Mississauga Mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
Bonnie Crombie (X) 82,736 78.47
David Shaw 7,202 6.83
George Tavares 5,613 5.32
Derek Ramkissoon 4,012 3.81
Mohsin Khan 2,866 2.72
Melodie J. Petty 1,464 1.39
Jayesh Trivedi 1,169 1.11
Bobie Taffe 370 0.35
Total 105,532 100.00
Source: City of Mississauga[53]
2018 Mississauga Mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
Bonnie Crombie (X) 91,422 76.68
Kevin J. Johnston 16,079 13.49
Scott E. W. Chapman 4,563 3.83
Andrew Lee 2,970 2.49
Mohsin Khan 1,458 1.22
Yasmin Pouragheli 996 0.84
Tiger Meng Wu 989 0.83
Syed Qumber Rizvi 752 0.63
Total 118,229 100.00
Source: City of Mississauga[54]
2014 Mississauga Mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
Bonnie Crombie 102,346 63.49
Steve Mahoney 46,224 28.68
Dil Muhammad 2,429 1.51
Stephen King 1,874 1.16
Masood Khan 1,254 0.78
Donald Barber 1,225 0.76
Derek Ramkissoon 1,044 0.65
Scott E. W. Chapman 868 0.54
Riazuddin Choudhry 790 0.49
Paul Fromm 775 0.48
Kevin Jackal Johnston 741 0.46
Andrew Seitz 507 0.31
Joe Lomangino 415 0.26
Grant Isaac 392 0.24
Sheraz Siddiqui 315 0.20
Total 160,678 100.00
Source: City of Mississauga[55]
2011 Ward 5 (Mississauga) By-Election
Candidate Votes %
Bonnie Crombie 2,479 21.54
Carolyn Parrish 2,238 19.44
Simmer Kaur 1,662 14.44
Peter Adams 1,347 11.70
Rick Williams 728 6.32
Kulvinder Bobbie Daid 633 5.50
Jake Dheer 573 4.98
Dianne Douglas 542 4.71
Mark Cashin 242 2.10
Barbara Hazel Tabuno 221 1.92
Mobeen Ali 174 1.51
Vlado Bertic 130 1.13
Glenn Barnes 58 0.50
Olive Rose Steele 57 0.50
Jimmy Ghimery 51 0.44
Sandeep Patara 51 0.44
Cheryl Rodricks 42 0.36
Frank Perrotta 40 0.35
Waqar Siddiqui 36 0.31
Jamie Dookie 35 0.30
Cecil Young 34 0.30
Mo Khan 28 0.24
Shirley Abraham 26 0.23
Grant Isaac 25 0.22
Catherine Soplet 25 0.22
Paul Keselman 17 0.15
Steve Bator 16 0.14
Total 15,816 100.00
Source: City of Mississauga[56]

Federal

[edit]
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Brad Butt 22,104 43.75 +7.95
Liberal Bonnie Crombie 18,651 36.92 -8.84
New Democratic Aijaz Naqvi 7,834 15.57 +5.65
Green Christopher Hill 1,802 3.76 -2.94
Total valid votes/Expense limit 50,391 100.00
Total rejected ballots 216 0.42 -0.15
Turnout 50,607 58.72 +2.59
Eligible voters 86,186
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Bonnie Crombie 21,710 45.76 -0.18 $79,830
Conservative Wajid Khan 16,985 35.80 +0.99 $82,516
New Democratic Keith Pinto 4,710 9.92 -3.39 $2,460
Green Otto Casanova 3,179 6.70 +2.22 $11,616
Independent Viktor Spanovic 431 0.90 NA
Independent Ralph Bunag 426 0.89 NA
Total valid votes/Expense limit 47,441 100.00 $89,184
Total rejected ballots 271 0.57 +0.2
Turnout 47,712 56.13 +8.03

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Vincent, Donovan (December 18, 2016). "Hazel who? It's Bonnie Crombie's Mississauga". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Ferguson, Rob (December 3, 2023). "'I didn't get into politics for an easy life': Crombie faces steep learning curve as she works to rebuild a party with just nine seats". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. p. A5.
  3. ^ Bascaramurty, Dakshana (September 26, 2014). "Two hopefuls, no Hazel: Inside Mississauga's first real race in decades". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "SEC.gov | Biovail Corporation, Eugene Melnyk, Brian Crombie, John Miszuk, and Kenneth G. Howling". www.sec.gov. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "Ex-Biovail CFO ordered to pay $300,000". The Globe and Mail. February 12, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Guardian, Marta Marychuk Brampton (May 10, 2018). "Another Crombie considers a run in politics". Brampton Guardian. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Pecar, Steve (April 26, 2022). "Brian Crombie, Mississauga mayor's ex-husband, set to run in provincial election". Insauga. Mississauga, Ontario. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (October 15, 2008). "The wrath against Khan". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. p. U10. Retrieved February 23, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff announces new roles for caucus". www.liberal.ca. Liberal Party of Canada. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  10. ^ Wicary, Stephen (October 6, 2009). "Liberals unveil new critics". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  11. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (May 2, 2011). "Butt topples Liberal in Mississauga-Streetsville". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  12. ^ Morrow, Adrian (September 19, 2011). "Crombie edges out Parrish for Mississauga council seat". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Grewal, San (December 12, 2012). "Charges go ahead against Mississauga councillor". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Rosella, Louie (February 12, 2013). "Crown withdraws election finance fraud charges against Ward 5 councillor Bonnie Crombie". Mississauga.com. Mississauga, Ontario. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Fox, Chris (September 20, 2014). "'Hurricane Hazel' looms over tight Mississauga mayoral race". CP24. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Rushowy, Kristin (April 15, 2014). "Mississauga poll finds Steve Mahoney, Bonnie Crombie tied in mayor's race". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  17. ^ "Hazel McCallion lends support to mayoral hopeful Bonnie Crombie". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. October 12, 2014. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Schwartz, Daniel (October 22, 2014). "11 mayoral races to watch in 2014". CBC News. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  19. ^ Loney, Heather (October 27, 2014). "Bonnie Crombie wins Mississauga mayoral election". Global News. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  20. ^ "Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie says she plans to run for reelection". CP24. October 27, 2017. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "Mississauga 2018 election results: Bonnie Crombie cruises to big mayoral win". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. October 22, 2018. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  22. ^ Fleguel, Jordan (October 24, 2022). "'Tonight's victory is our victory:' Bonnie Crombie re-elected for third term as Mississauga mayor". CP24. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  23. ^ "Bonnie Crombie victorious in Mississauga, Patrick Brown wins in Brampton". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. October 24, 2022. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  24. ^ Reporter, Noor Javed Staff (May 18, 2023). "The Peel Region is splitting up. Now comes the battle about money". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Benzie, Robert (May 15, 2023). "No more Peel Region? Doug Ford supports 'an independent Mississauga'". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ford government to break up Peel Region within 3 years: source". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. May 17, 2023. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  27. ^ "TVO Today Live: 2023 Ontario Liberal leadership debate". TVO. November 16, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  28. ^ Aguilar, Bryann (December 2, 2023). "Crombie says she plans to resign as Mississauga mayor 'early in the new year' after winning Ontario Liberal leadership". CTV News. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  29. ^ "Bonnie Crombie to resign as Mississauga mayor on Jan. 12". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  30. ^ Crawley, Mike (March 6, 2023). "Ontario Liberals face 'a ton of work' before taking on Doug Ford's PCs in next election". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  31. ^ D'Mello, Colin (May 4, 2023). "Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie strongly considering entering race for Liberal leadership". Global News. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  32. ^ "Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie considering run for Ontario Liberal leadership: source". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. May 9, 2023. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  33. ^ "Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie takes aim at Ford government as she eyes Liberal leadership". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. May 22, 2024. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  34. ^ Fleguel, Jordan (June 14, 2023). "Mississauga, Ont., Mayor Bonnie Crombie launches Ontario Liberal leadership campaign". CTV News. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  35. ^ "Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie to take leave of absence to focus on Liberal leadership bid". CBC News. Toronto, Ontario. September 13, 2023. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  36. ^ Stone, Laura (October 4, 2023). "Bonnie Crombie plans to return as Mississauga Mayor for budget process before new Liberal leader named". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 22, 2024.(subscription required)
  37. ^ Fleguel, Jordan (June 14, 2023). "'I'm ready to fight': Bonnie Crombie officially launches campaign to become Ontario Liberal leader". cp24. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  38. ^ "Bonnie Crombie is front-runner in Ontario Liberal leadership race, poll shows". www.thestar.com. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  39. ^ "Bonnie for Ontario". Bonnie Crombie. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  40. ^ "Bonnie Crombie wins Ontario Liberal leadership race, says party focused on beating Doug Ford". CBC News. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  41. ^ "Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie is stepping down. Here's what happens next". CBC News. December 17, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  42. ^ DeClerq, Katherine; Morris, Siobhan (January 12, 2024). "Bonnie Crombie will no longer be the mayor of Mississauga. Here's how she will lead the Ont. Liberals without a seat". CTV News. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  43. ^ D'Mello, Colin; Callan, Isaac (February 8, 2024). "Bonnie Crombie 'seriously' considering running for Milton byelection". Global News. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  44. ^ "Ontario Liberals announce candidate for Milton byelection | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  45. ^ "2024 Milton provincial by-election", Wikipedia, August 26, 2024, retrieved August 31, 2024
  46. ^ Jones, Allison (March 18, 2024). "Ontario Liberals rule out provincial carbon tax as part of 2026 election platform". CBC News. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  47. ^ D'Mello, Colin; Callan, Isaac (March 18, 2024). "Ontario Liberals rule out carbon tax if they form government in 2026". Global News. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  48. ^ Benzie, Robert (March 19, 2024). "Bonnie Crombie distances her Liberals from Justin Trudeau's carbon levy". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  49. ^ DeClerq, Katherine (March 19, 2024). "Ontario Liberals distancing themselves from Justin Trudeau's carbon tax". CTV News. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  50. ^ "Ontario's Liberals to Chart Bold Path Forward at Annual Meeting and Policy Conference in London". Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  51. ^ Benzie, Robert (August 21, 2024). "Bonnie Crombie embraces prominent critics of Justin Trudeau as she distances her Ontario party from the federal Liberals". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  52. ^ "Leadership Official Results" (PDF). www.ontarioliberal.ca. Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  53. ^ "2022 Official election results". City of Mississauga. August 12, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  54. ^ "2022 Official election results". City of Mississauga. August 12, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  55. ^ "2022 Official election results". City of Mississauga. August 12, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  56. ^ "2022 Official election results". City of Mississauga. August 12, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Mississauga
2014–2024
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ward 5 Councillor, Mississauga
2011–2014
Succeeded by
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville
2008–2011
Succeeded by