The Ontario Liberal Party held a leadership election in 1976 on January 24–25 to replace Robert Nixon.
Condon, who had served as mayor of Strathroy, Ontario, said that he empathized with the working man and would seek grassroots support.
[2] Next to join the campaign was Edward Culp, a Toronto teacher who had also run in the 1973 Liberal leadership election.
[6] Smith, who was elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Hamilton West in 1975 was well-spoken and articulate.
The 31-year-old businessman who had been elected in London Centre in 1975 said that he had support from ten caucus members including Edward Sargent, John Riddell and Sean Conway.
[8] Rounding out the candidates were Mark MacGuigan, a 44-year-old federal MP from Windsor and Albert Roy, a 36-year-old MPP from Ottawa.
[9] Some Liberals including Donald Deacon tried to recruit former federal finance minister John Turner for the leadership election, but he declined.
[11][7] On January 23, 1976, about 2,000 Liberal delegates gathered at the Royal York Hotel to give Nixon a rousing tribute.
Some delegates felt that Peterson was too young to be leader and others were dissuaded because he reminded them of current Tory Premier, Bill Davis.
In his first session, during the Speech from the Throne, the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) made a motion condemning the government's position.