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Baker, a former Ontario MPP for Etobicoke Centre under premier Kathleen Wynne, cited housing affordability, the economy and crime as issues impacting voters and said, “I think Ontario Liberals are looking for a leader who can bring forward ideas to address those problems. I don’t think those issues are being properly addressed by the current premier.”

There is a growing list of — potential — Liberal leadership candidates who, like Baker, have all said the job is a consideration.

The names most discussed include MPPs Adil Shamji (Don Valley East), Stephanie Bowman (Don Valley West), Rob Cerjanec (Ajax), Tyler Watt (Nepean), Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands), along with º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøcity councillor Josh Matlow (º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøSt. Paul’s) and federal MP Karina Gould (Burlington).

MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches East York) is seen by some as the undeclared frontrunner.

Erskine-Smith lost to Crombie in the December 2023 leadership contest and has repeatedly criticized her skills. Last summer he sent a missive to party members highlighting her Feb. 27 election loss to Premier Doug Ford, who won his third majority. Crombie failed to win a seat in Mississauga, where she served as mayor for a decade. 

While many Liberals say Erskine-Smith has never stopped campaigning for the top job, he has yet to announce his intentions. 

A former senior campaign adviser who spoke confidentially to share strategic considerations, said that “if” Erskine-Smith decides to run, he might not announce his candidacy until he can do it with aplomb.

“It’s kind of in his interest this time to have a launch that might be more akin to the way Bonnie did it,” the adviser said, “which is having a laundry list of party luminaries who have endorsed you, already in.”

The Liberal party executive has not yet announced a date for the leadership campaign, a spokesperson said.  

With files from Ryan Tumilty