Toronto, ON - In a surprise move, John Tory Jr. has suspended his campaign to become the Liberal MP nominee for the Beaches–East York riding. The 47-year-old son of former Toronto mayor John Tory cited a tight timeline and strong support for longer-running candidates as the reasons behind his decision.
Tory released a statement on a campaign website, stating, "The tight timeline of this campaign, combined with the strong support earned by the other candidates from their years of hard work, do not provide a realistic or viable path to success for me." He expressed his commitment to supporting the eventual nominee and ensuring a Liberal MP is elected in the upcoming byelection.
Tory had initially expressed interest in challenging outgoing Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith in the riding. However, he acknowledged that the strong support for other candidates made his chances of success slim. He emphasized the importance of unity behind the eventual nominee and ensuring their election.
Tory's decision comes as the Liberal nomination meeting for the riding is scheduled for this Saturday. A byelection date for the riding has yet to be announced, but needs to be declared by January 3, 2027. Beaches–East York is one of four vacant federal seats, alongside one in B.C. and two others in Quebec.
Tory's father, John Tory, resigned as Toronto's mayor in 2023 and has been a prominent figure in Canadian politics. Erskine-Smith's failed bid for the Ontario Liberal leadership and his decision to run for Toronto city council have made his federal seat available.
In a statement, Tory thanked his family and team for their support, as well as the community leaders, business owners, and individuals who took the time to meet with him. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to listen to the challenges and aspirations of the people he met during his campaign.
Tory's decision to suspend his campaign marks the end of his bid to become the Liberal MP nominee for Beaches–East York. However, he remains committed to supporting the eventual nominee and ensuring a Liberal MP is elected in the upcoming byelection.
