Nate Erskine-Smith appeals results of Ontario Liberal nomination in Scarborough

Nate Erskine-Smith is challenging the results of last weekend’s Ontario Liberal nomination in Scarborough Southwest after losing the contest by 19 votes, according to a copy of the appeal viewed by The Globe and Mail.

Mr. Erskine-Smith, currently a federal Liberal MP, filed a notice of appeal to the party’s arbitration board on Tuesday morning, the copy obtained by The Globe showed. The notice said the results of the May 9 contest should be set aside based on “serious irregularities,” including allegations of inconsistencies about proof of identification.

“This is no longer about any individual candidacy. It is about the integrity of our democratic process. A full investigation is essential,” the appeal said.

Liberal Nate Erskine-Smith says he is ready to go ‘toe to toe’ with Premier Doug Ford

The notice also alleged that there were 34 extra ballots counted in the race, when compared with the number of voters.

Mr. Erskine-Smith’s team did not immediately comment on the appeal. The Ontario Liberal Party said Tuesday it had received part of the appeal and expected the rest to be filed later in the day. The party, which has consistently stood by the results of the contest, said it would be sending an official statement later Tuesday.

Mr. Erskine-Smith had hoped to make the leap to provincial politics as the candidate in a yet-to-be-called byelection in the east Toronto riding, before an expected run for leader of the Ontario Liberals.

His plan hit a snag on Saturday when he lost the nomination to pizza store franchisee Ahsanul Hafiz. Mr. Erskine-Smith has yet to say if he still plans to run for leader. But he also previously said he would quit federal politics as soon as Premier Doug Ford calls the by-election, expected sometime this summer.

Mr. Erskine-Smith has represented the east Toronto riding of Beaches-East York since 2015.

He had raised concerns leading up to the nomination about the membership process, and immediately after the vote, he said his team of scrutineers had told him about “ID issues” in the voting room, which he called “unreal.” He also claimed the Liberal Party establishment was working against him.

The Ontario Liberal Party, including interim leader John Fraser, have stood by the results of the contest.

Mr. Fraser told reporters at Queen’s Park on Monday that the Ontario Liberals ran a fair and free nomination, with more than 50 people from the party working at the event. He said anyone who has concerns about the race should “prove it.”

“People say things in the heat of the moment, right? Because no one likes losing,” Mr. Fraser said.

The party on Monday invited Mr. Hafiz to Queen’s Park to meet with the Ontario Liberal caucus. Mr. Hafiz told reporters he hadn’t yet heard from Mr. Erskine-Smith about the nomination, and he’s focused on winning the by-election.

The riding has been held by the NDP for the past three elections, but the seat was vacated in February when former Ontario NDP deputy leader Doly Begum quit to run for the federal Liberals.

The Ontario Liberal Party will choose its new leader on Nov. 21.