This is a list of notable individuals and entities who provided endorsements to candidates during the 2020 Ontario Liberal Party leadership contest, or had their expression of support reported in the media. Titles or offices held listed are current as of the March 6, 2020 when the leadership convention was called to order. This list only includes individuals who held public elected offices, or individuals/entities of prominence sufficient for their expression of support to be reported by news media.
Endorsements by caucus members As typical in leadership contests of the two main political parties in Canada and other countries with government based on the Westminster model, the public support of incumbent caucus members were the endorsements most prized by the contestants and most often cited by journalists and pundits. The Ontario Liberal Party was decimated in the 2018 Ontario election, leaving only seven survivors in caucus. Among them, two were candidate themselves, two resigned by the fall of 2019 (their successors were not elected until a week prior to the convention), and both the outgoing leader Kathleen Wynne and interim leader John Fraser remained neutral throughout the contest. This left long time Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle the only caucus endorsement up for grab in the traditional sense. The Del Duca campaign released Gravelle's endorsement a month prior to members voting.
The next most sought after groups were the former MPPs, especially those in office prior to the 2018 election, and the Liberals MPs representing Ontario electoral districts as they were the most likely figures to have on the ground political organization at their disposal. They also played an outsized role in the contest as party granted all former Ontario Liberal MPPs and all current Liberal MPs representing Ontario electoral districts status as voting delegate at the convention. MPPs MPsCurrentFormerCurrentFormerTotal available7~16079~270Michael Coteau 1 (self)955Steven Del Duca 1342211Kate Graham 7 1 Brenda Hollingsworth Mitzie Hunter 1 (self) 2 1 2Alvin Tedjo 1 Relevance to outcome The competition for endorsements were largely among the three leading candidates. The campaigns of Del Duca, Coteau and Graham each released endorsements at regular intervals throughout fall of 2019 and early 2020, and leverage the endorsements at strategic junctures for public and members communication purposes. Hunter was not competitive on this front despite having been a caucus and cabinet colleague with many of the potential endorsers for an extended period like Del Duca and Coteau. The number of endorsements released by the contestants corresponded roughly to the voting results, with Del Duca laying claims to a bit over half of all the released endorsements, and Coteau's tallies being approximately a third of Del Duca's and Graham being approximately a quarter.
The regional distribution of the endorsements also provided early clues of the rival camps pockets of strengths. Del Duca's long list of endorsements from the 905 area reflected his campaign's dominance in that region. The endorsements released also foreshadowed Coteau's strong performance in Eastern Ontario and Scarborough, Graham's firm grip of the area surrounding her London home base, and Hunter's surprise wins in certain electoral districts in the north.
Uniquely, Coteau and Del Duca were each endorsed by a municipal politician that became a Conservative MPPs just a few years later: Coteau was endorsed by Toronto School Trustee David Smith, who would become MPP for Scarborough Centre just two years later in the 2022 provincial election, while Del Duca was endorsed by Milton councilor Zee Hamid, who would go on to win the 2024 Milton by-election and would join the Ford ministry as Associate Solicitor General in March 2025. Michael Coteau Coteau claimed the second longest list of endorsements, with nine former MPPs (six of them having served under Peterson's leadership in the 1980s), six current MPs and five former MPs, and more than a dozen municipal elected officials, leveraging the network he built over a long period as a Liberal activist before holding public offices.
Former MPPs Central Hon. Sheila Copps (Hamilton Centre 1981–84, 1982 leadership contestant, MP for Hamilton East 1984–2004, Deputy Prime Minister 1993–97, federal cabinet minister 1993–2003, 1990 & 2003 federal leadership contestant) Jennifer Mossop (Stoney Creek 2003–07) Steven Offer (Mississauga North 1985–95, Solicitor General 1989–90) East Richard Patten (Ottawa Cantre 1987–1990, 1995–2007, cabinet minister 1987–90) Southwest Carol Mitchell (Huron—Bruce 2003–11, agriculture minister 2010–11) Robert Nixon (Brant 1962–91, party leader 1967–76, Deputy Premier & Treasurer 1985–90) Jack Riddell (Huron–Middlesex 1973–90, agriculture minister 1985–89) Toronto Arthur Potts (Beaches–East York 2014–18) Murad Velshi (Don Mills 1987–90)
MPs Toronto Shaun Chen (Scarborough North since 2015, Toronto District School Board Trustee 2006–15 & Chair 2014–15) Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley East 2004–11 & since 2015) Adam Vaughan (Spadina—Fort York since 2014, Toronto City Councillor 2006–14) Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre since 2015) Central Majid Jowhari (Richmond Hill since 2015) Outside of Ontario Greg Fergus (Hull—Aylmer, QC since 2015, former National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada)
Former federal parliamentarians (Plus: Copps listed under former MPPs)
East Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands 2011–15) Southwest Ovid Jackson (Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound 1994–2004) Hon. Jerry Pickard (Chatham-Kent—Essex 1988–06) Toronto Hon. David Collenette (Don Valley East 1993–2004 and York East 1974–79 & 1980–84, cabinet minister 1983–84, 1993–96, 1997–2003) Michelle Simson (Former MP for Scarborough–Southwest)
Municipal elected officials Central Loralea Carruthers (East Gwillimbury councillor since 2004) Nokha Dakroub, (Peel District School Board trustee since 2014) Adam Moote (Welland councillor since 2018) Raj Sandhu (Bradford West Gwillimbury councillor since 2010) Dave Neeson (Georgina councillor) East Donna Blackburn (Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Trustee since 2010) Eli El–Chantiry (City of Ottawa councillor) Southwest Selwyn Hicks (Grey County warden) Toronto Josh Matlow (Toronto City Councillor for Toronto—St. Paul's since 2010, Toronto District School Board Trustee 2003–10) David Smith (Toronto District School Board Trustee for Scarborough Centre since 2010)
Former municipal elected officials Central Larry Di Ianni (Mayor of Hamilton 2003–06, Hamilton City Councillor 2000–03, Stoney Creek Councillor 1982–2000) Toronto Jon Burnside (Toronto City Councillor for Don Valley West 2014–18) John Campbell (Toronto City Councillor for Etobicoke Centre 2014–18, Toronto District School Board Trustee 2003–10 & chair) Gerri Gershon (Toronto District School Board Trustee 1975–2018) Bruce Davis (Toronto District School Board Trustee 2000–10–2018 & Chair)
Other prominent individuals
Alfred Apps, former president of the Liberal Party of Canada David Gourlay, Ottawa Civics and Sports Leader
Greg MacEachern, political commentator on CTV News Channel's Power Play Bruce McIntosh, Past President of the Ontario Autism Coalition
References for endorsements of Michael Coteau
Steven Del Duca Del Duca was endorsed by Michael Gravelle, the most senior member of caucus, and essentially the only caucus endorsement up for grab. He was also endorsed by the lion share of the fellow former MPPs who served in the McGuinty-Wynne era, and the lion share of the sitting federal MPs.
MPPs Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay—Superior North since 1995, cabinet minister 2007–18)
Former MPPs (Plus: Dong & Jaczek listed under current MPs, Mauro under current municipal officials) Central Granville Anderson (Durham 2014–18) Chris Ballard (Newmarket—Aurora 2014–18, cabinet minister 2016–18) Michael Chan (Markham—Unionville 2007–18, cabinet minister 2007–18) Dipika Damerla (Mississauga East—Cooksville 2011–18, cabinet minister 2014–18, current Mississauga City Councillor) Bob Delaney (Mississauga—Streetsville 2003–18) Joe Dickson (Ajax—Pickering 2007–18) Kevin Flynn (Oakville 2003–18, cabinet minister 2014–18, Oakville Regional & Town Councillor 1985–2003) Ann Hoggarth (Barrie 2014–18) Harinder Malhi (Brampton—Springdale 2014–18, cabinet minister 2018) Amrit Mangat (Mississauga—Brampton South 2011–18) Reza Moridi (Richmond Hill 2007–18, cabinet minister 2013–18) Greg Sorbara (Vaughan 1985-95 & 2001–12, cabinet minister 1985-90 & 2003–07, 1992 leadership contestant, Party President 1999–2003) Harinder Takhar (Mississauga—Erindale 2003–18, cabinet minister 2003–13, 2013 leadership candidate) East Hon. Don Boudria (Prescott and Russell 1981–84, MP for Glengarry–Prescott–Russell 1984–2006, federal cabinet minister 1996–2003) Grant Crack (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell 2011–18) Sophie Kiwala (Kingston and the Islands 2014–18) Jeff Leal (Peterborough 2003–18, cabinet minister 2013–18, Peterborough City Councillor 1985–2003) Lou Rinaldi (Northumberland—Quinte West 2003-11 & 2014–18, Mayor of Brighton 2000–03) North Rick Bartolucci (Sudbury 1995–2014, cabinet minister 2003–13) David Orazietti (Sault Ste. Marie 2003–17, cabinet minister 2013–16, Sault Ste. Marie City Councillor 1997–2003) Southwest Murray Elston (Huron—Bruce 1981–94, cabinet minister 1985–90, interim party leader 1991, runner-up of 1992 leadership contest) Dave Levac (Brant 1999–2018, Speaker 2011–18) Steve Peters (Elgin—Middlesex—London 1999–2011, Speaker 2007–11, cabinet minister 2003–07, Mayor of St. Thomas 1991–99) Khalil Ramal (London-Fanshawe 2003–11) Liz Sandals (Guelph 2003–2018, cabinet minister 2013–18) Daiene Vernile (Kitchener Centre 2014–18, cabinet minister 2018) Toronto Donna Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre 2003–14, cabinet minister 2005–10, Toronto District School Board Trustee 1997-2003 and Chair 2001–03, Etobicoke Board of Education Trustee 1988–97) Eric Hoskins (St. Paul's 2009–18, cabinet minister 2010–18, 2013 leadership candidate) Peter Milczyn (Etobicoke—Lakeshore 2014–18, cabinet minister 2017–18, Toronto City Councillor 2000–14, Etobicoke City Councillor 1994–98) Mario Sergio (York West 1995–2018, cabinet minister 2013–16, North York/Toronto City Councillor 1978–95) George Smitherman (Toronto Centre 1999–2010, cabinet minister 2003-09 and Deputy Premier 2006–09)
MPs Central Bob Bratina (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek since 2015, Mayor of Hamilton 2010–14, Hamilton City Councillor 2004–10) Helena Jaczek (Markham—Stouffville since 2019, MPP for Oak Ridges—Markham 2007–18, provincial cabinet minister 2014–18) Iqra Khalid (Mississauga—Erin Mills since 2015) Ruby Sahota (Brampton North since 2015, chair of the Federal Liberal Ontario Caucus since 2017) Ramesh Sangha (Brampton Centre since 2015) Hon. Deb Schulte (King—Vaughan since 2015, cabinet minister since 2019) Maninder Sidhu (Brampton East since 2019) Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South since 2015) Gagan Sikand (Mississauga—Streetsville since 2015) Francesco Sorbara (Vaughan—Woodbridge since 2015) East Chandra Arya (Nepean since 2015) Francis Drouin (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell since 2015) Neil Ellis (Bay of Quinte since 2015, Mayor of Belleville 2006–14) North Marc Serré (Nickel Belt since 2015) Southwest Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre since 2015) Lloyd Longfield (Guelph since 2015) Tim Louis (Kitchener—Conestoga since 2019) Bryan May (Cambridge since 2015) Raj Saini (Kitchener Centre since 2015) Toronto Han Dong (Don Valley North since 2019, MPP for Trinity—Spadina 2014–18) James Maloney (Etobicoke-Lakeshore since 2015, chair of the Federal Liberal Toronto Caucus) Hon. Judy Sgro (Humber River—Black Creek since 1999, federal Minister of Immigration and Citizenship 2003–05, Toronto City Councillor 1998–99, Metro Councillor 1994–97, North York Councillor 1987–94)
Former federal parliamentarians