Former Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith has announced his candidacy for a Toronto city council seat in Beaches-East York in the upcoming October municipal election. Erskine-Smith, who served as an MP for Beaches-East York for over a decade, stated in a release to CBC News on Wednesday morning that he is seeking to represent Ward 19 and has been invited to join Mayor Olivia Chow’s team. He is expected to officially register his candidacy at city hall later today.
This decision follows his departure from federal politics in July and his unsuccessful bid for the Ontario Liberal Party nomination in Scarborough-Southwest earlier in May, ahead of a by-election. Despite contesting the nomination results and appealing to a party panel, his appeal was ultimately rejected.
A lawyer by profession, Erskine-Smith was first elected as an MP in Beaches-East York in 2015 and went on to secure re-election in 2019, 2021, and 2025. In 2024, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed him as the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities. Although he retained this position under Prime Minister Mark Carney, he was removed from the federal cabinet in May 2025.
In 2023, Erskine-Smith ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party but came in second, trailing behind Bonnie Crombie. He cited three main reasons for entering the municipal race: to collaborate with Mayor Chow, address various issues ranging from housing to climate action, and represent Toronto’s east end once again as a proactive councilor.
Erskine-Smith will face stiff competition in the ward, with 10 other candidates already registered to run for the seat. One of his opponents, Natalie Johnson, expressed her commitment to the community in a statement issued prior to Erskine-Smith’s nomination filing. Johnson emphasized the importance of prioritizing the community’s needs and highlighted her focus on improving traffic flow, enhancing public transportation, and maintaining the cleanliness and safety of streets, parks, and public spaces.