Toronto MP Erskine-Smith challenges provincial nomination loss after casting doubt on election

Liberal MP for Beaches-East York Nate Erskine-Smith speaks with reporters as he makes his way to caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith has filed a notice of appeal to the provincial Liberals, challenging the result of a nomination race that he lost.

Erskine-Smith was vying to represent the provincial party in the upcoming Scarborough Southwest byelection ahead of an intended bid for the leadership of the party.

He lost Saturday to Ahsanul Hafiz by a slim margin then cast doubt on the process, suggesting there were voter ID issues.

The party is standing behind the integrity of the race and the vote.

Erskine-Smith represents the neighbouring riding of Beaches-East York federally, and some of his fellow nomination candidates bristled at what they saw as a candidate trying to use their community as a springboard for the leadership.

Erskine-Smith has suggested the party “establishment” was working to prevent him from winning the nomination, a charge the party denies.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2026.