Dear Mike Schreiner:

We are a group of Ontario Liberals who are deeply concerned about the state of politics in Ontario, and more broadly, about the future of our province and our country.

We know we are not alone. Millions of Ontarians share these concerns. And they feel increasingly alienated and dissatisfied with “politics as usual.”

Our politics are stuck in an endless loop of gimmicks and cynical games.

Ontarians are troubled by the Ford government’s abandonment of environmental and economic standards including their attack upon the Greenbelt, Conservation Authorities, municipal management of development and more. They are worried about the increasing privatization of our healthcare system.

Ontarians are demanding something better.

That is why we are taking this unprecedented step – to reach outside our ranks to urge you, the leader of another party – to join the Ontario Liberals and run for our party’s leadership.

Many of us are long time Liberals. Some of us served as MPPs and ministers in previous Liberal governments. Others represent a newer generation of Liberals and several of us ran as candidates in the recent provincial election.

But we all agree on one thing: Our party needs to rediscover a politics of purpose and principle. We need to reach out to a new generation of voters. We need to open up to new people and new ideas and to embrace the kind of energy and enthusiasm that is driving grassroots activism and engagement across the province.

And that’s why we’re turning to you.

All of us have followed your career and the clarity of purpose that you have shown in your political life is an inspiring contrast to the cynicism that dominates our politics today.

We believe that your strong principle-based approach and your ability to connect and motivate activists – especially young people – is exactly what our party and province need now.

Climate change is a defining issue of our time. And on this – as on any other matter relating to the environment – you speak with both passion and authority.

It is the same when it comes to healthcare. You stood up to Doug Ford on the sorry state of our healthcare system during the last provincial election campaign. During the leaders’ debate you challenged him on behalf of the tens of thousands overworked and underpaid nurses in our province.

You saw through him then and you have the credibility to take the fight to him on the issue of healthcare now.

We know what we are asking you to do is without precedent. But this moment is also without precedent.

As Liberal leader you would not only have a larger audience of supporters, but you would have a broader platform to rally Ontarians and impress upon them the need to take action on a crucial list of issues like climate change and the environment. Ultimately, and most important of all, it would give you a much greater opportunity of achieving the goals that you have championed.

For our part, should you decide to run, we pledge our support. And we commit to work hard to help you win the Ontario Liberal leadership, and to rebuild the party as a vital grassroots organization across the province. As a first step, we have established www.draftmike.ca, a website where we are inviting Ontarians to show their support for your candidacy.

We want to stress that this is not a vote of non-confidence in our party or the many talented individuals who have expressed an interest in potentially leading it. This is an effort to open up our party and move beyond the narrow scope of traditional partisan politics.

We know what kind of future we want for our children and grandchildren.

We are ready to roll up our sleeves and make it happen. But we need a leader to guide us there. We believe that you can be such a leader. We urge you to run.

Sincerely:

John Aniol Campaign Manager

Zach Armstrong Riding President

Jamie Burton 2014 Candidate

Lucille Collard Liberal MPP

Ann Cook Long-Time Liberal

David Cooke Former Liberal MPP

Mary Cruden Long-Time Liberal

Helen Darby Long-Time Liberal

Raechelle Devereaux 2022 Candidate

Peter Donolo Long-Time Liberal

Matthew Dupuis Long-Time Liberal

Robin Edger Environmental Leader

Ashley Fox 2022 Candidate

Julie Garner Long-Time Liberal

John Godfrey Former MP

Kate Graham 2022 Candidate / 2020 Leadership Candidate

Jesse Helmer Former Deputy Mayor

Mike Johnson Long-Time Liberal Organizer

Brendan Knight 2018 Candidate

Vanessa Lalonde 2022 Candidate

Charlie Love Long-Time Liberal

Sherry Mason Long-Time Liberal

Deb Matthews Former Deputy Premier

Lyn McLeod Former Leader, Ontario Liberal Party

John Milloy Former Cabinet Minister

Mike Moffatt Economist & Professor

Ismail Mohamed 2022 Candidate

Christie Nash Long-Time Liberal

Tim Nash Sustainable Finance Expert

Philip Playfair Environmental Entrepreneur

Amanda Pulker-Mok 2022 Candidate

Christine Ritsma Liberal Environmentalist

Pat Rutter Long-Time Liberal

Liz Sandals Former Cabinet Minister

Claire Sauveterre Activist & Organizer

Surekha Shenoy 2022 Candidate

Greg Sorbara Former Cabinet Minister

Pat Sorbara 2014 Campaign Director

Bryan Stortz Long-time Liberal Organizer

Melanie Van Alphen 2022 Candidate

View the formal letter here (PDF)