Eve Adams aims to take on Finance Minister in Eglinton-Lawrence

Former Conservative MP Eve Adams intends to take on Finance Minister Joe Oliver in this year’s federal election, Adams announced Wednesday.

Adams said she will make a bid to become the Liberal candidate in the Toronto riding of Eglinton-Lawrence after leaving the Harper government earlier this week.

A Liberal source told Parliament Hill reporter Cormac MacSweeney the party is excited Adams is running, but she will have to go through the open nomination process like everyone else seeking the candidacy.

The race for the Liberal nomination is shaping up to be competitive.

Another candidate, lawyer Marco Mendicino, was already campaigning before Adams announced her intention to run in the downtown riding and some Liberals in the area, including MPP Mike Colle are angry about Adams running in the riding since she does not live there.

Adams was a Mississauga city councillor until winning a seat in the House of Commons representing the Mississauga—Brampton South riding.

University of Toronto political scientist Nelson Wiseman said if the grits want her, they’ll have to parachute her in.

“They disqualify all of the other candidates, so the one candidate they want is the only one left standing,” Wiseman said.

But he added if Adams wins the nomination, the Liberals do stand a chance at taking out Finance Minister Joe Oliver as voters care less about the candidates and more about the parties and their leaders.

Before Oliver, the riding was Liberal Red since it was created in the ’70s.