Ahsanul Hafiz to represent Scarborough Southwest as provincial Liberal candidate | CBC Accessibility

"Because of you guys, I'm here today," he said. "I know everybody put [in a] lot of effort and that is the beauty of democracy." Three others were vying to be the party's candidate in the riding: Qadira Jackson, Mahmuda Nasrin and current Beaches East-York MP Nate Erskine-Smith. Organizers for the candidates have for weeks been signing up new members who voted using a ranked ballot system. The local campaign was tense, with apparent coalitions forming between candidates in a bid to defeat Erskine-Smith."

"Jackson and Hafiz appeared to have struck a verbal agreement of support in a bid to block the MP from winning. They both urged their supporters to back the other candidate as their second choice on their ranked ballots. Erskine-Smith ran for the nomination as part of his second bid to become Ontario Liberal leader. He finished a strong second to former leader Bonnie Crombie in the 2023 race and was a vocal critic of her ahead of the review that led to her resignation last September."

"Erskine-Smith had previously said he would resign his federal seat once the provincial byelection was called. He posted an 11th-hour video to social media of him speaking to Prime Minister Mark Carney, who says he hopes to see Erskine-Smith working for the people of Scarborough. The byelection was triggered by the shocking defection of the former Ontario NDP deputy leader and Scarborough Southwest MPP Doly Begum, who quit that post to run in the same riding for the federal Liberal Party."

"Her resignation opened the seat provincially and Erskine-Smith announced a short time later he would seek the party's nomination in a bid to win a seat at Queen's Park. According to his campaign website, Hafiz currently operates dozens of Domino's Pizza franchises across Ontario."

Ahsanul Hafiz became the provincial Liberal candidate for Scarborough Southwest after a nomination battle involving Qadira Jackson, Mahmuda Nasrin, and current Beaches East-York MP Nate Erskine-Smith. New party members were signed up and voted using a ranked ballot system, and local campaigning was tense as candidates formed apparent coalitions to prevent Erskine-Smith from winning. Jackson and Hafiz urged supporters to list the other as a second choice to block Erskine-Smith. Erskine-Smith sought the nomination as part of a second bid to become Ontario Liberal leader and had previously said he would resign his federal seat once a provincial byelection was called. The byelection was triggered when Doly Begum resigned as Scarborough Southwest MPP to run federally for the Liberal Party. Hafiz runs dozens of Domino’s Pizza franchises across Ontario.

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