Grits go to war in Scarborough

Plus: Big move on campus

SCARBOROUGH SIZZLER

Liberals pick their Scarborough Southwest byelection candidate Saturday in a nomination race that has quickly morphed into the first real stress test of NATE ERSKINE-SMITH’s provincial leadership hopes.

Erskine-Smith is looking to beat out rivals QADIRA JACKSON, AHSANUL HAFIZ and MAHMUDA NASRIN in Saturday’s vote. But boy, it’s been a hot mess up ‘til now.

The stakes: Erskine-Smith has said he would quit his federal seat once the byelection is called, but there’s an awkward question hanging over him: if he can’t win the nomination, does he keep running for leader?

The Jackson beef: The race has been spicy from the get-go. Erskine-Smith had not-so-subtly asked Jackson and Hafiz to join his team, effectively dropping their own bids, and perhaps with some future role dangled if he becomes leader. Hard pass, said his rivals. NES has also been dealing with a ranked ballot strategy in which Jackson and Hafiz are asking their supporters to pick each other for their top choi…