Ontario's Liberal Party is turning to a seasoned parliamentarian to guide it through another leadership transition. Ottawa South MPP John Fraser has been nominated to serve as the party's interim leader, marking the third time he has been called upon for this temporary role.
A Familiar Face in the Interim Role
The party's caucus selected Fraser to take over following the resignation of former leader Bonnie Crombie last week. Crombie, the former mayor of Mississauga, had pledged to step down in September after narrowly avoiding a leadership review. She led the party for three years, successfully regaining official party status in the legislature in February 2025, despite personally losing her race in Mississauga East—Cooksville by approximately 1,200 votes.
A party spokesperson confirmed that a formal vote to affirm Fraser's interim leadership will be held in the "coming days." This process involves a caucus panel, riding association presidents from constituencies without Liberal MPPs, and the party's executive council. The same procedure was followed during Fraser's previous interim terms in 2018 and 2022, following the departures of leaders Kathleen Wynne and Steven Del Duca, respectively.
Path to a Permanent Leader
The party has indicated that full details regarding the upcoming leadership race to select a permanent successor are expected to be announced by February 9, 2026. While the list of potential candidates is still forming, one prominent figure has already ruled herself out.
Karina Gould, the federal MP for Burlington and a former cabinet minister, has decided not to seek the provincial leadership. Gould, who finished third in the recent federal Liberal leadership contest, had reportedly considered a run but concluded late last year that she could best serve her constituents by remaining in her federal role.
The Party's Current Standing
Fraser assumes the interim helm as the party works to rebuild. Although the Liberals added five new seats in the 2025 provincial election, they still trail significantly in the legislature. The party holds 13 fewer seats than the Official Opposition New Democrats and 65 fewer than the governing Progressive Conservatives.
First elected in a 2013 byelection to succeed former premier Dalton McGuinty in Ottawa South, Fraser's deep experience within the party apparatus makes him a stabilizing choice during this period of transition. His immediate task will be to maintain party unity and momentum as Liberals across Ontario await the rules and timeline for selecting their next full-time leader.
