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A Liberal source, who spoke on condition they aren’t named, said Tory is looking to run in Blair’s riding, with discussion in Liberal circles and a media report suggesting the former cabinet minister could get a diplomatic posting abroad. 

A second source with knowledge of the situation, who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity, also said that talks about a potential run for the Liberals have focused on Blair’s riding. But Tory Jr. suggested he could try to represent other areas of Toronto. 

“For now, these discussions remain exploratory. If opportunities arise in the future, I’ll be ready to consider how I can best serve and represent º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøas part of building a stronger Canada,” Tory Jr. wrote.

Tory Jr.‘s wording echoed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s slogan from this spring’s federal election campaign, when the Liberals ran under the banner “Build Canada Strong.”

Matteo Rossi, a spokesperson for the Liberal party, did not confirm or deny any discussions with Tory Jr., but said the party is “regularly approached by a whole host of community leaders who are interested in supporting our government’s work.” Rossi added that “there are currently no vacancies in the House of Commons, and no by-elections have been called.” 

The Liberal source who spoke to the Star said Tory Jr. has wanted to be involved with the federal Liberals for a while, including in the recent general election. One issue, however, is that some inside the party are “scratching their heads” about whether he has the right experience to be an elected politician, the source said. 

Tory Jr. has worked for several years in the aviation industry, and is currently the chief commercial officer at Pivot Airlines, which provides charter flights for businesses and individuals, according to its website. He has also contributed to º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøradio broadcasts as a regular commentator. 

His father was Toronto’s mayor from 2014 to 2023, when he resigned and admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with a woman who worked in his office. The former mayor also ran the 2007 provincial election campaign as leader of the Progressive Conservatives. The Star reported in June that Tory is considering a political comeback by running against Mayor Olivia Chow in next year’s municipal election. 

A Facebook  from Monday, circulated from an account identified as belonging to an executive in the Liberal riding association of Scarborough Southwest, shows a photo of Tory Jr. meeting with community figures. The post said Tory Jr. has expressed interest in federal politics and would be a “strong voice in Ottawa.” 

In his email to the Star, Tory Jr. described the meeting as a “vibrant discussion of issues” in Scarborough Southwest that also focused on challenges across º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøand the GTA. 

Asked about the meeting, riding association chair Edward Nixon said the Liberal organization in Scarborough Southwest did not organize or sanction the meeting detailed in the post, and that Blair has the “full support” of the local riding association.

Blair, a former defence minister, was overlooked for a cabinet post after Carney’s Liberals won a minority government in the April 28 general election. 

The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday that Carney is considering awarding diplomatic postings to Blair and a fellow former cabinet minister, British Columbia’s Jonathan Wilkinson. The Star was unable to confirm the report, and neither of the MPs responded to queries on Wednesday.

With files from Ben Spurr