Housing advocate Eric Lombardi joins Ontario Liberal leadership race

Housing advocate Eric Lombardi is officially joining the race to lead Ontario’s Liberal party. (Eric Lombardi campaign/photo)

Housing advocate Eric Lombardi is officially joining the race to lead Ontario’s Liberal party and “bring back an affordable life.”

Since launching an exploratory campaign in late January, Lombardi says he’s connected with over 1,500 people across 35 ridings.

“What I have heard in those conversations has only deepened my resolve,” he said in a news release.

Lombardi added that there was common thread running through those conversations: “The need to rebuild a Liberal Party that stands for something real, and the urgent desire to change the course of this province. I am running to honour every one of those conversations.”

He is the fifth candidate in the running to fill the void left by Bonnie Crombie.

Former federal Liberal cabinet minister Navdeep Bains, ex-political staffer Dylan Marando, as well as current Ontario Liberal MPPs Lee Fairclough and Rob Cerjanec have also thrown their hats in the ring.

Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith has said his run for leadership is much less likely after losing a nomination race in Scarborough Southwest. He will resign his seat on June 26, but his future plans remain unclear.

Ontario Liberals will choose their next leader on Nov. 21.

With files from The Canadian Press