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Election readiness was top of mind as Ontario Liberals flocked to their annual general meeting in London this weekend, with the possibility Ontarians could be sent to the polls as early as the new year.
More than 1,000 Liberal party members and supporters from across Ontario descended on RBC Place starting on Friday for the party’s three-day annual meeting and policy conference.
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While the main goal of the meeting is to conduct party business, the possibility of a snap election can’t be ignored, said Carter Brownlee, director of communications for the Ontario Liberals.
“We want to rally everyone for what could be an early election,” he said Saturday.
“And make sure everyone is equipped to run strong campaigns in their ridings.”
The conference included presentations on running winning campaigns, including one by former British Columbia premier Christy Clark.
Delegates at the annual meeting elect various party executive positions, make amendments to the party constitution and discuss policy directives that could shape the Liberal platform next election.
Former Toronto mayoral candidate Jennifer Keesmat led a standing-room-only session on housing policy Saturday afternoon, one of several panel discussions on the conference agenda.
Though the next provincial general election is scheduled for June 2026, it is possible the governing Progressive Conservatives could call a vote sooner.
Premier Doug Ford earlier this month ruled out a fall election, but a vote in early 2025 remains possible.
Ford was elected with majority mandates in 2018 and again in 2022.
The Ontario Liberals have been working to regain ground in the legislature after a staggering defeat in 2018, an election where they were reduced to seven seats. The Liberals won eight seats in the 2022 election.
There are no Liberal MPPs west of the Greater Toronto Area. London’s three core city ridings are represented by New Democrat MPPs.
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