Arbitration Board Dismisses Nate Erskine-Smith’s Challenge to Ontario Liberal Nomination Loss in Scarborough Southwest
Federal Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith has lost his appeal of a provincial party nomination vote in Scarborough Southwest, after an arbitration board rejected his allegations of “serious irregularities” in the May 9 contest. The board confirmed the victory of businessman Ahsanul Hafiz, who will now carry the Ontario Liberal banner in an anticipated summer byelection.
Board Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing
The three-member arbitration board, chaired by former Liberal cabinet minister and lawyer David Zimmer, issued its 17-page ruling Sunday night. “Having carefully reviewed all of the evidence, we find that there were no irregularities in the conduct of the meeting that affected the result of the vote or that call the meeting’s integrity into question,” the decision read.
“We are satisfied that the party’s rules were followed and that Ahsanul Hafiz was the true winner of the vote. The appeal is dismissed.”
Concerns Raised Too Late, Board Says
The board noted that Erskine-Smith and his team failed to raise concerns during the voting process itself. “They had opportunities throughout the day to dispute the propriety of conduct in the voting room. The returning officer’s evidence is that they never did this,” wrote Zimmer.
Jack Siegel, a lawyer representing Hafiz and former general counsel to the election campaigns of Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne, echoed that finding. “The entire process is built on this is where you make your case,” he said.
What Erskine-Smith Had Alleged
In his notice of appeal, Erskine-Smith raised several concerns about the conduct of the nomination meeting, including:
The board reviewed these allegations at a hearing held the previous Wednesday evening but found them insufficient to overturn the result.
Party Turns Focus to Byelection
Interim Ontario Liberal leader John Fraser called on the party to move forward. “Our focus is on the voters of Scarborough Southwest. They have an important decision ahead, and we will work to earn their trust,” he said.
Hafiz, who owns 30 Domino’s Pizza outlets, will run as the Liberal candidate in the byelection Premier Doug Ford is expected to call this summer. The seat has been vacant since New Democrat Doly Begum resigned in February to join the federal Liberals, winning a federal byelection on April 13.
Erskine-Smith’s Political Future Uncertain
Erskine-Smith, who has represented the neighbouring federal riding of Beaches-East York since 2015, sought the provincial nomination as part of a planned transition to Ontario politics and a potential run for the Ontario Liberal leadership. Following his nomination loss, he pledged to resign his federal seat after Parliament rises for the summer recess and indicated he was less inclined to pursue the provincial leadership race, leaving his political future in question.
Erskine-Smith did not comment before publication deadline.
