Crombie and Schreiner.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
{{SUB_BUTTON}}
The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
{{SUB_BUTTON}}
The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
{{SUB_BUTTON}}
The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
{{SUB_BUTTON}}
The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
{{SUB_BUTTON}}
The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
{{SUB_BUTTON}}
The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
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The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.
SCOOP — In the lead-up to the early election call, the Greens pitched a bold non-compete pact with the Grits: step aside in Parry Sound-Muskoka, and we’ll return the favour in five ridings, including Bonnie Crombie’s.
The proposal was shut down. Instead, Team Crombie went at it alone, sending in a paper candidate to Parry Sound-Muskoka. In the end, Graydon Smith won and Crombie lost her seat by a margin far beyond what the Greens might’ve cost.
Many say it was the right call. To her detractors, the dismissal is proof that Crombie, up for a leadership review next month, is not up to the task.
{{SUB_BUTTON}}
The calculus: In a cluster of ridings where they previously played spoiler, the Greens were ready to stand down.
Take East-Cooksville, for example. In 2022, Dipika Damerla lost to Kaleed Rasheed by 1,206 votes, while James Hea, the Green candidate, won 1,345 votes. Though the Green vote took a hit and Crombie fell to Silvia Gualtieri by a margin larger than anything the Greens could’ve swung, the original split could’ve put the Liberal leader over the top.
In exchange, the Greens would get a free run in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had doubled their vote share and believed another head-to-head would tip their way.
Kitchener Centre, where Aislinn Clancy was up for re-election, came up. With minimal internal worry about losing it, winning a third seat became their primary target. However, sources say there had been at least some cross-caucus conversations about a possible arrangement in a riding or two, like Clancy’s, though nothing came of it.
Pile on: Behind the scenes, the Greens weren’t exactly too relaxed about Coleen James. The regional councillor was the Liberals’ locally-known challenger to Clancy. Sources say Schreiner personally called James, urging her to steer clear of Clancy’s turf.
According to several sources, the Green leader pitched James on running for his party in neighbouring Kitchener South-Hespeler. At the time, a spokesperson didn’t say no. “Mike respects Colleen’s decision to run in Kitchener Centre and there has been no contact between Mike and Colleen since she was nominated,” they said. “Assertions that Mike called Colleen and asked her to stand down [against Clancy] are false.”
Keeping the door open for a deal in Parry Sound-Muskoka, the party sat on sending their paperwork in a handful of ridings until the nomination deadline hit, one source familiar with the conversations said. The Liberals, though, wouldn’t bite.
“[The campaign team] didn’t think they needed it,” the source, granted anonymity to speak candidly, explained. “It wasn’t worth it to them.”
Instead, David Innes, a non-local operative, was named Crombie’s candidate in Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they had no organizational presence. Innes was already on the campaign’s payroll, leading their digital infrastructure.
It’s a routine move. With the per-vote subsidy in place, every vote is cash for the local riding association. Parties have an incentive to play a long game — run a full slate, even if they don’t expect to win, to build infrastructure for the next run.
“It’s easier to build up from something than from nothing,” one source explained.
Team Schreiner isn’t denying it. “In the lead-up to the election, a number of citizen-led organizations actively encouraged collaboration among opposition parties,” said Bianca Bell, the party’s co-campaign director, in a statement. “In response, Mike asked us to engage in conversations with the other opposition parties about how we might work together in the best interests of Ontarians.”
Bell said the priority “has always been, and remains, working across party lines to build the kind of government Ontarians want and deserve.”
(Schreiner had agreed to an interview, but pulled out at the last minute. Instead, Bell’s statement was passed along).
To that, Liberals say they’re not in the business of trading credibility for convenience. “We’re the Ontario Liberal Party. We’re not the Rhinoceros Party,” one source said. “We’re going to contest every single riding.”
“That’s wild,” a second said. “[They] were right to say no.”
Think like a strategist. “Pulling the NDP candidate in East-Cooksville for a 1:1 trade in the Southwest, where they lost a couple, would have made more sense for Bonnie,” they added. “Not this.”
“I can’t help but think that Nate Erskine-Smith would’ve played ball,” a soon-to-be delegate mused.
If a deal was discussed, local operatives privately deny they were briefed — or even aware it was on the table. One said they would’ve advised against it. Rather, for a third-place party trying to rebuild, the per-vote cash was a no-brainer.
“End of the day, we’re pulling in more cash than the NDP,” they said.
For the naysayers — think the New Leaf Liberals — it’s just more evidence that Crombie’s not the answer.
“Bonnie Crombie’s refusal to even consider a new, innovative approach to politics proves she cannot be the leader to strengthen the Ontario Liberal Party into the party that will defeat Doug Ford,” said organizer Nathaniel Arfin. “We look forward to electing a leader who will.”
Another, non-New Leaf, had a bit more to say. “Most would support progressives co-operating,” they texted. “Refusal doesn’t make any sense and is frustrating for those tired of seeing the party flounder.”
One operative wasn’t having any of it. “If the New Leaf Liberals don’t believe that the Ontario Liberal Party should be competitive in each of the province’s 124 ridings and that party brass should cut backroom deals with other parties, that speaks volumes about their commitment to empowering the grassroots.”
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Should the Liberals have played ball? Was it the right call? I want your take and I’ll keep you anonymous. Your favourite newsletter is back on Friday with all the reaction, the spin and the snark.