Former Cabinet Minister, MPP, and Mayor of Cambridge, Kathryn McGarry, has announced her candidacy for president of the Ontario Liberal Party.
The former mayor of Cambridge, McGarry was a minister in the Cabinet of Premier Kathleen Wynne and represented the riding of Cambridge in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario prior to her election.
“I believe Ontario’s best days are still ahead of us and that Ontario Liberals can get us there,” said McGarry in a news release. “We may be down, but we’re certainly not out. Party members I talk to from across the province tell me they’re ready to roll up their sleeves and lay the groundwork for victory in 2026.”
According to the release, McGarry is running on a platform focused on three themes: restoring accountability and trust between the party leadership and its members; growing the party from the membership up; and delivering a fair and transparent leadership process.
McGarry previously ran and lost in two elections before becoming the Liberal MPP for Cambridge in 2014.
“In 2014 I faced the same steep odds Ontario Liberals are now facing after two tough election losses,” said McGarry. “We didn’t give up then and we won’t give up now. As President, I’ll help our party get back to basics and build our movement from our membership up."
Before entering politics, McGarry was a critical care nurse in 1978, working at the Hospital for Sick Children, Grand River Hospital, and Cambridge Memorial hospital.
McGarry is also a founding member of Hospice Waterloo Region, the past president of the Heritage Cambridge Board of Directors, and a member of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council.
“We’re rebuilding our party at the same time Doug Ford’s cuts are driving a new generation of activists to stand up and fight back,” added McGarry. “This is our moment to create a home for them in our party in every community in this province.”
The Ontario Liberal Party AGM will be held from March 3-5 in Hamilton.
