The race, won by candidate Ahsanul Hafiz over soon-to-be ex-federal Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith by just 19 votes, has triggered a broader debate inside Ontario politics about how parties choose candidates, who should be allowed to vote in those contests, and whether private political organizations can continue policing themselves.
Among the measures is a fast-tracked amendment to Toronto’s municipal code that would explicitly ban mini-motorcycles and other motorized vehicles from bike lanes, cycle tracks and multi-use trails.
The Ontario Liberal Party has indicated constitutional amendments will not be considered until the party’s next annual general meeting, expected in 2027, after the current leadership race concludes.
An internal analysis of "notice of appeal validity" obtained by QP Briefing and dated May 12, pushes back forcefully against those allegations, arguing the appeal “does not establish grounds to overturn the result.”
The project, first unveiled in 2024 alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford, was set to transform Honda’s Alliston operations into a major EV production hub. Plans included four new facilities across Ontario, anchored by a new electric vehicle assembly plant and a stand-alone battery manufacturing plant in Alliston.
Ward 1 Coun. Clare Riepma has announced he will not seek a third term at Barrie City Hall, becoming the second councillor to make the decision ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
Ward 3 Coun. Ann-Marie Kungl has announced she will not seek re-election in the 2026 municipal election.
