Former Federal Cabinet Member Navdeep Bains Announces Ontario Liberal Leadership Bid

Former federal cabinet minister Navdeep Bains has officially entered the race for the Ontario Liberal leadership.

Bains served as industry minister in Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government prior to exiting the political arena in 2021, and has recently stepped down from his executive position at Rogers to pursue a bid to lead the provincial Liberals.

A 16-second campaign launch video posted on social media on May 25 shows Bains silently entering a classroom, taking a seat, and rolling up his sleeves.

The video ends with the message “Let’s Get To Work” appearing on the screen in large letters accompanied by smaller text saying the clip was authorized by the official agent of the Navdeep Bains leadership campaign.

The 48-year-old former cabinet minister has also launched a campaign website that says “coming soon” and features the same “Let’s Get To Work” slogan along with links asking visitors to get involved or donate.

The Ontario Liberals did not immediately respond to an email asking if Bains had been officially confirmed as a candidate, but Elections Ontario has confirmed his participation in the race.

Bains was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 for the Toronto-area riding of Mississauga-Brampton South and briefly held the position of parliamentary secretary to then-Prime Minister Paul Martin.

He was defeated by Conservative Eve Adams in the 2011 federal election but returned to federal politics in 2015, securing victory in the Mississauga-Malton riding.

He led Canada’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry from 2015 until he left cabinet and announced his retirement from political life in January 2021.

Attempts to reach Bains to ask why he decided to re-enter politics were unsuccessful.

Possible Opponents

Bains campaign launch comes after the provincial party dismissed an appeal by Ontario Liberal leadership candidate and current Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith over the Scarborough Southwest nomination process.

Erskine-Smith announced in February his plans to run for the leadership of the party and sought the provincial Liberals’ nomination in the Scarborough Southwest byelection on May 9. The 41-year-old’s plans for a run at the leadership were dashed, however, when he lost the contest to businessman Ahsanul Hafiz.

The Toronto-area MP alleged irregularities in the vote, including claims that 34 more ballots were counted than the number of recorded voters and that some people who could not provide their address or said they lost their driver’s licence were allowed to vote.

The party’s arbitration panel dismissed his appeal earlier this week, saying his allegations could not be substantiated.

Erskine-Smith has said that a leadership bid is “much less likely” now.

Also chasing the Liberal leadership are current provincial caucus member and former hospital president Lee Fairclough and former political staffer Dylan Marando.

Fairclough, 52, was elected in the 2025 election to represent Etobicoke-Lakeshore, a riding in the southwestern part of Toronto.

Marando worked for two former Liberal premiers, federal cabinet ministers, and Trudeau when he was prime minister. He most recently held a position at a global medical technology company.

Also exploring possible bids are caucus member Rob Cerjanec and housing advocate Eric Lombardi.

The Ontario Liberals are set to choose their next leader in the fall following the January resignation of Bonnie Crombie after she was unable to secure a seat at Queen’s Park. Crombie, the former mayor of Mississauga, had been Liberal leader for three years.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.