Bonnie Crombie has resigned as the leader of Ontario’s Liberal Party following a tumultuous day marked by internal dissent. Her resignation came just hours after she expressed her intention to remain in the role despite receiving only 57 percent support during a leadership review at the party's annual general meeting.

Crombie announced her decision in a press release, stating, "Even though I received a majority of support from the delegates, I believe it is the best decision for the Ontario Liberal Party to facilitate an orderly transition towards a leadership vote." She indicated that she had consulted with her family, colleagues, and the party executive before making her choice. Crombie also informed the party president that she would resign once a successor is selected.

The leadership review revealed significant discontent within the party. A source familiar with the situation described the atmosphere as a "caucus revolt," noting that Crombie faced strong opposition from her 14 Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) after the vote. Some caucus members reportedly threatened to leave and sit as Independents if Crombie continued as leader.

When Crombie addressed the delegates at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, she acknowledged that the 57 percent support was "not the number I wanted." Notably, no caucus members were present beside her during this announcement, highlighting the discord within the party.

Premier Doug Ford responded to Crombie's resignation on social media, thanking her for her years of public service and wishing her well in her future endeavors. He remarked, "Politics demands a lot of personal sacrifice, including time away from family and loved ones."

Crombie's resignation follows a mandatory leadership review that indicated 43 percent of delegates favored a new leadership contest within the next year. This outcome surprised many of her supporters, who believed she was the best candidate to challenge Ford's government after the recent election, where Crombie failed to secure a seat in the legislature.

Critics of Crombie had called for her resignation if she did not achieve two-thirds support in the vote. The Ontario Liberal Party's constitution requires a leader to receive more than 50 percent of the votes to remain in position, which Crombie technically achieved.

Nathaniel Arfin, a spokesperson for the New Leaf Liberals, a group advocating for change within the party, expressed gratitude for Crombie's decision to step down. He stated, "We look forward to electing a leader who can build a strong Liberal Party we need to beat Doug Ford."

Crombie's resignation marks a significant shift for the Ontario Liberal Party as it seeks to regroup and prepare for future challenges.