I am very happy to be able to throw my support behind Lee Fairclough. I really believe that Lee has what it takes in terms of leadership and capacity to lead us through these next number of years and such a time of uncertainty. Lee was the Chief Executive and the President of the St. Mary’s General Hospital during the COVID pandemic. She has been a member of the legislature—the fact that Lee has a seat is going to allow her to change the discussion of politics in Ontario. She’s going to be able to take on Doug Ford in the legislature, and she’s in politics because she really believes that there is a way to make change and that government can be a force for good in people’s lives. That’s why she can lead us. That’s why I’m supporting her.
What Leaders Are Saying
I'm proud to endorse my friend and colleague, Lee Fairclough, to be the next Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Lee is kind, genuine, and the change our party needs. She leads with integrity, brings people together, and has the vision to build a stronger future for Ontario.
I believe that Lee Fairclough is the leader we need to earn the trust and confidence of voters, to win seats across the province, and to lead Ontario after the next election.
Anybody who meets Lee immediately comes away with the impression that she is thoughtful, serious and honest. My impression has only been solidified by working together with Lee, using our seats in the Legislature to oppose the Ford government at every turn, but always doing politics in a first-class way. In these troubled times, I believe voters want the best politicians to be leading us.
I know Lee will be able to lead a strong and diverse caucus, just as she led St. Mary's General hospital in Kitchener, before being inspired to help fix our healthcare system by entering politics in 2022. She will be a fresh start for the Ontario Liberal Party.
She is connected to different parts of the province, having grown up in rural Bruce County and Scarborough, studied in Hamilton and Waterloo, and lived and worked in the GTA and Kitchener.
Lee beat a Conservative to win her seat in her home riding of Etobicoke Lakeshore, immediately committing to stay in the fight after a close loss in 2022. She is also a competitor, as a swimmer and as a member of Canada's national women's rugby team. No doubt she has the perseverance and fighting spirit to lead us into the next election campaign and beyond.
I'm proud to support MPP Lee Fairclough as the next leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. Lee is the kind of leader who can not only defeat Ford, but also rebuild a strong, grassroots movement that truly reflects all Ontarians.
I've seen her in action as a caucus colleague, and from the very beginning, she stepped into the arena with confidence, challenging the government's misplaced priorities with clarity and conviction. Her leadership stands in sharp contrast to this Premier's. She leads with integrity, she listens, and she puts people first. I trust her to stand up for what's right, even when it's not easy.
Lee brings real-world experience, a sharp focus on what matters most, and a collaborative, team-oriented approach. She has both the drive and the discipline to deliver meaningful results for Ontario.
At a time when people are looking for leadership they can trust, leadership that understands their daily realities and is ready to act, Lee is that leader.
Lee is a strong, inclusive, and relentless leader. She is brilliant, hardworking and represents Liberal values in her daily work. Lee is a refreshing change in today's polarized world and I would be proud to call her my leader.
Doug Ford is failing to deliver for Ontarians. Our province needs a leader who is honest, competent and focused on priorities including healthcare, education, stable jobs, affordability, and reliable transportation infrastructure—not jets, vanity projects or making their friends rich while the average person is struggling to pay for housing, gas and groceries.
Queen’s Park should also be working with municipalities, not against them, to deliver the critical services and infrastructure our communities need most.
That’s why I’m very proud to support Lee Fairclough for Ontario Liberal Party leader and next Premier of Ontario. I’m convinced Lee has the experience, skills and character to put people and communities first—and get us back on the right track.
I had the honour of spending more than 25 years in the Ontario Legislature, as an MPP, a Minister and as President of the Ontario Liberal Party, Through it all I gained some real insight into what makes a successful leader. Someone who can chart a course for our province to thrive, someone who can inspire others to perform at their highest and best and someone who, through discussion and debate, draws inspiration from others.
Lee Fairclough is all that and more. She listens and she inspires. She knows politics is a team sport and that a great team needs effective leadership. She is among a new breed of political leaders who understand the real challenges that Ontarians face - in their homes, their workplaces and their communities. Her strong experience in health care has helped prepare her to take on the myriad challenges she will face as premier.
I see this leadership election as the essential first step in Lee Fairclough becoming the next Liberal premier of our great province. She has my support and I hope she will have yours.
MEET LEE
Lee Fairclough is Ontario’s MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, where she has lived for 25 years with her husband and raised their two sons.
A lifelong public servant, Lee began her career as a radiation therapist at Princess Margaret Hospital before moving into senior hospital leadership roles. As President of St. Mary's General Hospital, she helped lead the community through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Raised in rural Southwestern Ontario, Lee learned the value of hard work and teamwork early on—lessons reinforced as a varsity swimmer, member of McMaster University Women’s Rugby Club, and member of Canada women's national rugby union team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. She brings that same leadership and team-first approach to public service today.
