In his announcement, Ajax MPP Rob Cerjanec said he is running for leader of the Ontario Liberal Party because he believes “Ontario families deserve a government that works as hard as they do.” He said his campaign will focus on affordability, health care, housing, public education and rebuilding the Ontario Liberal Party.
Cerjanec was elected in 2025 to represent Ajax. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from York University and an MBA from York’s Schulich School of Business.
Before entering provincial politics, he worked in the education and public sectors, including as an operations manager at George Brown College, chief of staff to former Toronto deputy mayor Ana Bailão, and executive lead of strategic initiatives and external relations at the Durham District School Board.
He is running against Lee Fairclough, MPP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore; Navdeep Bains, a former MP for Mississauga—Brampton South and Mississauga—Malton who served in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet; and Dylan Marando, a former political staffer and policy adviser, in the 2026 Ontario Liberal leadership race.
The race appears to be shaping up as a contest between different Liberal brands: Cerjanec’s suburban, pragmatic party-rebuilding Liberalism; Fairclough’s public-services and health-care Liberalism; Bains’ business-friendly, centrist economic Liberalism; and Marando’s technocratic, next-generation Liberalism.
In an interview with The Provincial Times, Cerjanec said he will release proposals to address affordability, housing, health care, public education and economic growth through research and innovation as the campaign unfolds.
He said his slogan, “Let’s Build Ontario,” goes beyond affordable housing. To Cerjanec, it also means building “a province where young people can see a future,” strengthening health care and education, and renewing the Ontario Liberal Party “from within.”
Cerjanec said he believes core social services should remain public, arguing governments should strengthen public institutions rather than move toward privatization.
“We need to strengthen our public system,” he said. “Privatizing social services actually costs governments more, and it doesn’t help people.”
Cerjanec also pointed to his seat in the legislature as one of his advantages in the race. He said sitting in the legislature is important because it allows a leader to hold the Ford government to account and show Ontarians that the Liberals can be a credible alternative.
“If we want a different result, we need to have a different approach,” Cerjanec said.
Since being elected, Cerjanec has served as Liberal critic for economic development and innovation, and tourism, sport and culture. He is also second vice-chair of the standing committee on finance and economic affairs.
During his time at Queen’s Park, he has sponsored Bill 61, which would require the government to "design, implement and maintain" an artificial intelligence, talent and innovation strategy. He has also co-sponsored bills on ticket resale price caps, sex offender registry information disclosure and tax relief for people under 27.
Cerjanec said his record shows he has been able to push the government on issues including GO Transit service, Metrolinx accountability, ticket resale prices, artificial intelligence policy and Premier Doug Ford’s purchase of a private jet.
He also said he would reverse cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
“Education shouldn’t be viewed as an expense; it should be viewed as an investment,” Cerjanec said.
He argued that the province cannot build a strong economy without a strong education system.
“That’s how we prepare young people for success,” he said.
When asked what separates him from the Ontario NDP, Cerjanec said his approach is pragmatic and focused on setting the next generation up for success. He said he is willing to listen to people across the political spectrum.
“Nobody holds a monopoly over a good idea,” he said.
“I want to see evidence-based, practical solutions and ideas that are going to make life better for people, that are going to bring down costs and that are going to make life more affordable.”
Cerjanec is not the only leadership candidate who currently sits in the legislature. Fairclough, who is also running for the leadership, co-sponsored Bill 28, which would have established a housing-first strategy. Cerjanec said he supported the bill and would back a housing-first approach.
For Cerjanec, that means building supportive and transitional housing to move people out of shelters and off the streets, rather than relying on a shelter-first model.
“If you build more shelters, you get more people in shelters,” he said. “If you build homes, you get people out of shelters and off the streets and into housing.”
The Provincial Times reached out to Fairclough’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response.
