HAMILTON — Ontario Liberals have voted to ditch delegated conventions in favour of a form of direct voting for their next leader, as the party seeks to recover from two consecutive electoral disasters.

Members overwhelmingly voted for the new process at the party's annual general meeting in Hamilton.

Proponents of one-member-one-vote say the process is more democratic, and delegated conventions put too much power in back rooms.

Delegated conventions, which have largely fallen out of favour, see delegates represent groups of members and get sent to the convention to vote for a particular candidate.

Members are set to pick a new party executive on Sunday at the AGM, and one of their first orders of business will be to set the rules and timelines for the upcoming leadership race.

At least three people are openly exploring bids – MP Nate Erskine-Smith, MP and former Ontario cabinet minister Yasir Naqvi, and current provincial caucus member and former MP Ted Hsu.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2023.

The Canadian Press