Nathaniel Erskine-Smith

Erskine-Smith was born on June 15, 1984,{{Cite web |title=Profile - Erskine-Smith, Nathaniel |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=18483 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Library of Parliament}} in Toronto, Ontario, attending Bowmore Elementary School and Malvern Collegiate. His parents, Sara Erskine and Lawrence Smith, were public school teachers.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

Erskine-Smith attended Queen's University, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics in 2007, before completing law school in 2010. While a student at Queen's, Erskine-Smith was an unsuccessful candidate for city council for Sydenham District in Kingston, Ontario, in the 2006 municipal elections. He also attempted to start a business selling panini sandwiches from a trailer and hoped to start a catering business.{{cite news |title=Meet your city council candidates |url=https://www.queensjournal.ca/meet-your-city-council-candidates/ |access-date=February 9, 2024 |work=Queen's Journal |date=November 3, 2006}} He then went on to study political philosophy and constitutional law at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master of Laws (BCL) degree in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://nerskine-smith.liberal.ca/biography/|title=Biography {{!}} Nathaniel Erskine-Smith {{!}} Your member of parliament for Beaches-East York|website=nerskine-smith.liberal.ca|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}}

Erskine-Smith practiced commercial litigation as an associate at Kramer Simaan Dhillon, after working as a law student at Aird & Berlis LLP. He also performed volunteer work for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.{{Cite web |last=Metro |first=Beach |date=2015-10-20 |title=East End joins Liberal sweep in Toronto |url=https://beachmetro.com/2015/10/20/east-joins-liberal-sweep-toronto/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Beach Metro Community News |language=en-CA}} He has taken on pro bono cases for a range of clients and causes, including a civil liberties case to protect religious freedom in Ontario's school system.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/02/03/catholic_schools_ontario_parents_fighting_to_have_children_exempt_from_religious_studies.html|title=Catholic schools: Ontario parents fighting to have children exempt from religious studies|date=2013-02-03|website=thestar.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}} In a notable civil liberties case in 2014, Erskine-Smith successfully argued against compulsory religious studies at publicly funded high schools in Ontario.

Erskine-Smith was elected to the House of Commons in the 2015 federal election. He beat incumbent MP Matthew Kellway, who was elected in 2011.{{Cite web |title=Nathaniel Erskine-Smith reclaims Beaches-East York for Liberals {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2284103/nathaniel-erskine-smith-reclaims-beaches-east-york-for-liberals/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2015-10-20 |title=BEACHES-EAST YORK: Liberal Erskine-Smith unseats NDP incumbent Kellway |url=https://www.toronto.com/news/beaches-east-york-liberal-erskine-smith-unseats-ndp-incumbent-kellway/article_07e3c660-befa-54d7-a1b3-35e3e178acb0.html? |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Toronto.com |language=en}} Erskine-Smith received endorsements from the provincial Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Arthur Potts and City Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon.

Erskine-Smith was re-elected in the 2019 election and 2021 election.

Following a Cabinet shuffle at the end of 2024, Erskine-Smith was appointed as the minister of housing, infrastructure and communities. He announced that he would seek re-election,{{Cite news |title=Erskine-Smith will seek re-election after becoming new housing minister |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6598455 |work=CBC News}} despite initially stating earlier in the year that he did not plan to run again.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Austin |date=2024-02-17 |title='This is and will always be home': MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith on not seeking re-election |url=https://torontoobserver.ca/2024/02/17/nathaniel-erskin/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=The Toronto Observer |language=en-CA}}

Erskine-Smith ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election. He campaigned against frontrunner Bonnie Crombie's plan to move the party back to the centre arguing that the way for the party to win the next provincial election was by wooing people who voted for the Ontario New Democratic Party, which had replaced the Liberals as the official opposition, saying “We have to earn the trust of progressive voters in this province. If we split the vote with the NDP, we lose... We have to earn the trust of progressive voters in this province.” Erskine-Smith joined fellow Liberal MP and leadership candidate Yasir Naqvi in a mutual support pact in an attempt to defeat Crombie. However, Crombie was elected on the third ballot, ahead of Erskine-Smith who came in second with 46 per cent support behind Crombie's 53 per cent.{{cite news |date=December 2, 2023 |title=Bonnie Crombie wins Ontario Liberal leadership race, says party focused on beating Doug Ford |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-liberals-announce-new-leader-1.7047338 |access-date=December 2, 2023 |work=CBC News}}

Erskine-Smith was appointed as the minister of housing, infrastructure and communities on December 20, 2024, following a Cabinet shuffle. His appointment came amid unpopularity for the Liberals in the polls and calls for the prime minister to step down following the resignation of Chrystia Freeland.{{Cite web |last=Tumilty |first=Ryan |date=2024-12-24 |title=Justin Trudeau to make Toronto MP Nate Erskine-Smith housing minister, Ottawa MP goes to public safety |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/justin-trudeau-to-make-toronto-mp-nate-erskine-smith-housing-minister-ottawa-mp-goes-to/article_da85d98c-be34-11ef-b1e8-7729c43adca4.html |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}} During a press conference after his appointment to the role, Erskine-Smith stated "I understand there’s going to be a short runway," and said his goal would be "to make the biggest difference that I can." He also expressed his intention to run in the 2025 federal election, after previously saying he would not.{{Cite web |last=Ling |first=Justin |date=2024-12-21 |title=Justin Ling: This new Liberal minister has a tiny window of time to ease the housing crisis. He just might do it |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/this-new-liberal-minister-has-a-tiny-window-of-time-to-ease-the-housing-crisis/article_34eafe3c-bf09-11ef-a25a-4f8251b22faa.html |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}} Erskine-Smith remained in that role under the 30th Canadian Ministry of Mark Carney and was reelected on April 28, 2025, but dropped from the 30th Canadian Ministry on May 13, 2025.{{Cite news |last=Lévesque |first=Catherine |last2=Nardi |first2=Christopher |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Anand moves to foreign affairs, Guilbeault stays and Wilkinson is out in new Carney cabinet |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/mark-carney-swearing-in-new-cabinet |access-date=May 13, 2025 |work=National Post}}

In 2015, Erskine-Smith seconded Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, that became law in June 2019. The bill prohibits the captivity of cetaceans and requires permits to import and export them to and from Canada. Erskine-Smith spoke to the house about the importance of the bill in June 2018.{{Citation |title=Protecting Endangered Whales |url=https://www.facebook.com/beynate/videos/protecting-endangered-whales/1753037771482075/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, "Endangered Whales" on June 4th, 2018 {{!}} openparliament.ca |url=https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/6/4/nathaniel-erskine-smith-1/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=openparliament.ca}}

On February 26, 2016, Erskine-Smith introduced Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act,{{Cite web |date=2016-10-06 |title=Liberal MP's Animal Cruelty Bill Defeated |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/10/06/nathaniel-erskine-smith-animal-cruelty-bill-c-246_n_12371614.html |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=HuffPost Canada |language=en}} to ban the import of shark fins and make Canada's animal cruelty laws tougher.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-09 |title=Beaches—East York MP is a different political animal: Delacourt |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/09/09/beacheseast-york-mp-is-a-different-political-animal-delacourt.html |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=thestar.com |language=en}} The bill won support from EndCruelty, a coalition of Canadians who support stronger animal protection laws.{{Cite web |title=End Animal Cruelty – Support Bill C-246 |url=http://endcruelty.ca/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=EndCruelty.ca |language=en-US}} Due to concerns from animal use lobbyists, the bill was defeated 198 to 84 at second reading. Two years later, a government bill addressing similar concerns was tabled by Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. She acknowledged Erskine-Smith's efforts as a precursor to the government's legislation.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-18 |title=Feds to ban all forms of bestiality, crack down on animal fighting |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/feds-to-ban-all-forms-of-bestiality-crack-down-on-animal-fighting-1.4139552 |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} The defeat of Erskine-Smith's Bill C-246 led to the creation of the Liberal Animal Welfare Caucus in 2017.{{Cite web |last1=Feb 1 |first1=Kelsey Johnson Published on |last2=2017 11:42am |date=2017-02-01 |title=Liberal internal caucus to focus on animal welfare |url=https://ipolitics.ca/2017/02/01/liberal-internal-caucus-to-focus-on-animal-welfare/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=iPolitics |language=en-US}} On September 5, 2017, Erskine-Smith wrote an article in NOW Magazine addressing his veganism and the importance of a social change towards the treatment of animals.{{Cite web |last=Erskine-Smith |first=Nathaniel |date=2017-09-05 |title=Opinion: Why I'm a vegan but don't consider myself an animal activist |url=https://nowtoronto.com/news/why-im-a-vegan-but-dont-consider-myself-an-animal-activist |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=NOW Magazine |language=en-us}}

For his efforts to modernize Canada's federal animal protection laws with Bill C-246, Erskine-Smith received the Humane Legislator Award from Animal Justice.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-29 |title=2016 Pro Bono & Humane Legislator Awards Recognize Outstanding Advocates |url=https://www.animaljustice.ca/blog/2016-pro-bono-humane-legislator-awards-recognize-outstanding-advocacy |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=Animal Justice |language=en-US}} In 2017, Erskine-Smith received the Fur-Bearers’ Clements award for his dedication to improving the lives of animals with Bill C-246.{{Cite web |title=The Fur-Bearers |url=https://www.facebook.com/FURfree/posts/10154857911851269 |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=EPISODE 401: NATHANIEL'S MESSAGE OF HOPE |url=https://thefurbearers.com/blog/episode-401-nathaniels-message-hope}} In 2019, Erskine-Smith was awarded the Toronto Vegetarian Association Lisa Grill Compassion for Animals Award for his compassion and commitment toward animals. He was also recognized by Humane Canada for his dedication to ending animal abuse.{{Cite web |title=Nathaniel Erskine-Smith |url=https://www.facebook.com/beynate/posts/2606045602847950 |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Nathaniel Erskine-Smith |url=https://www.facebook.com/beynate/posts/2563478323771345 |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}

In October 2018, Erskine-Smith called an emergency debate on climate change in Parliament in response to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's special report on global warming. He requested action to be taken by the government and Canadians to ensure that Canada can reduce its emissions and reach the targeted goals.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-16 |title=Trudeau Government Urged To Step Up Climate Action In Emergency Debate |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/10/16/trudeau-government-urged-to-step-up-climate-action-in-emergency-debate_a_23562480/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=HuffPost Canada |language=en}} On June 5, 2019, Erskine-Smith introduced bill C-454, the Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Act, to require the Government of Canada to reduce GHG emissions to net zero by 2050.{{Cite web |title=Private Member's Bill C-454 (42-1) - First Reading - Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Act - Parliament of Canada |url=https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-454/first-reading |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=www.parl.ca |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-06-05 |title=Liberal MP proposes 'net zero' emissions target for 2050 |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/06/05/liberal-mp-proposes-net-zero-emissions-target-for-2050.html |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}

In February 2016, Erskine-Smith represented Canada at a joint United Nations/Inter-Parliamentary Union conference reviewing how different countries were dealing with illegal drugs. He partnered with Mexican Senator Laura Rojas to argue that countries should seek alternatives to incarceration in cases where individuals have drugs solely for personal use.{{Cite web |last1=Feb 8 |first1=Kyle Duggan Published on |last2=2016 5:00am |date=2016-02-08 |title=Liberal MP brings government's pro-pot stance to world stage |url=https://ipolitics.ca/2016/02/08/liberal-mp-brings-governments-pro-pot-stance-to-world-stage/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=iPolitics |language=en-US}} In early January 2017, Erskine-Smith published an op-ed in Vice calling for the decriminalization of all drug possession as a logical next step to the government's drug policy.{{Cite web |last=Erskine-Smith |first=Nathaniel |date=2017-01-26 |title=I'm a member of Trudeau's Liberals and I think the government should decriminalize all drugs |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/im-a-member-of-trudeaus-liberals-and-i-think-the-government-should-decriminalize-all-drugs/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=Vice |language=en}} In late January 2017, Erskine-Smith delivered a speech in the House of Commons in support of Bill C-37, to expand access to safe injection clinics across Canada.{{Cite web |title=Debates (Hansard) No. 130 - January 31, 2017 (42-1) - House of Commons of Canada |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/house/sitting-130/hansard#Int-9331689 |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=www.ourcommons.ca |language=en}} In the first episode of the television series Political Blind Date in 2017, Erskine-Smith and Conservative MP Garnett Genuis discussed their differing perspectives on the legalization of cannabis in Canada.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-04 |title=Political Blind Date series hopes opposites attract, or at least get along |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2017/11/04/political-blind-date-series-hopes-opposites-attract-or-at-least-get-along.html |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=thestar.com |language=en}} Erskine-Smith introduced a Liberal caucus policy resolution to address the opioid crisis through a public health approach, and it was adopted as the second overall priority by the grassroots Liberal membership at the Liberal Policy Convention in Halifax in April 2018.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-21 |title=Sex work, drugs and pharmacare: What Liberals want in 2019 platform |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/sex-work-drugs-and-pharmacare-what-liberals-want-in-2019-platform-1.3892062 |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}

Erskine-Smith introduced bill C-460, seeking to remove criminal sanctions for low-level possession and to reduce the stigma associated with seeking treatment.{{Cite web |date=2019-06-23 |title=Why A Liberal MP Tabled A Bill To Decriminalize Hard Drugs At The Worst Time |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/decriminalization-drugs-canada_ca_5d0f8751e4b0aa375f4e1b8c |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=HuffPost Canada |language=en}} In 2018, Erskine-Smith appeared on CBC's Power & Politics to speak about his disappointment in the Liberal government endorsing a ‘War on Drugs’ document from the United States during CUSMA negotiations. He argued it brought the conversation about drugs away from a health issue, which ran counter to his push for drug decriminalization and domestic policy at the time.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-16 |title=Canada's Liberal party considers decriminalization of all illicit drugs |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/16/canada-liberal-party-considers-decriminalization-all-illicit-drugs |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Canada endorsed U.S. 'war on drugs' document to appease U.S., Liberal MP says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1332258371793 |website=CBC}}

In March 2019, Erskine-Smith wrote an op-ed for NOW Magazine where he discussed his support a bill introduced by New Democratic Party (NDP) MP Murray Rankin, stating that only expungements would address the injustice of cannabis criminalization.{{Cite web |last=Erskine-Smith |first=Nathaniel |date=2019-03-12 |title=Pot pardons don't go far enough to address racial injustices, says Liberal MP |url=https://nowtoronto.com/api/content/9cc61654-41dd-11e9-b0fa-120e7ad5cf50/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=NOW Magazine |language=en-us}} Erskine-Smith seconded the bill in the House of Commons.{{Cite web |last=Kirkup |first=Kristy |date=2019-03-15 |title=Liberals urged to follow U.S. jurisdictions to expunge cannabis records |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberals-urged-to-follow-u-s-jurisdictions-to-expunge-cannabis-records-1.4337743 |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}

In 2020, Erskine-Smith introduced bill C-235. This bill would delete the drug possession offence from the Criminal Code.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-11 |title=Beaches-East York MP introduces Private Members Bill to emphasize public health over criminal charges in controlled drugs act |url=https://www.beachmetro.com/2020/03/11/beaches-east-york-mp-introduces-private-members-bill-to-emphasize-public-health-over-criminal-charges-in-controlled-drugs-act/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=Beach Metro Community News |language=en-US}} He also introduced bill C-236, which would provide diversion options to law enforcement, crown attorneys, and judges for drug possession cases.

Erskine-Smith was vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics during the 42nd Parliament.

In June 2018, Erskine-Smith introduced bill C-413, an Act to amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, to give new powers for the federal privacy commissioner.{{Cite web |last1=Jun 20 |first1=Sarah Turnbull Published on |last2=2018 4:00pm |date=2018-06-20 |title=Liberal backbencher tables bill to give privacy commissioner more power |url=https://ipolitics.ca/2018/06/20/liberal-backbencher-tables-bill-to-give-privacy-commissioner-more-power/ |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=iPolitics |language=en-US}} In August 2019, Erskine-Smith wrote an op-ed for the Toronto Star expressing his desire for the right to be forgotten. He explained that in an increasingly connected, online world citizens should have the right to hide content published about them from search engines if the individual’s privacy is being seriously violated.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-27 |title=Do people have the right to be forgotten on the internet? |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/thebigdebate/2019/08/27/do-people-have-the-right-to-be-forgotten-on-the-internet.html |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}

In February 2021, alongside Wayne Long, Erskine-Smith was one of only two Liberal MPs to vote in favour of a New Democratic Party (NDP) motion to take a first step towards developing a national pharmacare system. The bill, proposed by Peter Julian, would have established the conditions for federal financial contributions to provincial drug insurance plans.{{Cite web |last=Nerenberg |first=Karl |date=2021-02-25 |title=Liberals rhetorically support NDP pharmacare bill, then vote against it |url=https://rabble.ca/health/liberals-rhetorically-support-ndp-pharmacare-bill-then-vote-against-it/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=rabble.ca |language=en-US}} The following year, the Liberal Party would commit to work towards a "universal national pharmacare program" as part of their confidence and supply agreement with the NDP following the 2021 federal election.{{Cite web |last=Zimonjic |first=Peter |date=March 22, 2022 |title=How the Liberal-NDP agreement will work and what it might mean for Canadians |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-singh-how-it-will-work-1.6393710 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |website=CBC}}

In response to the occupation of downtown Ottawa by the Freedom Convoy, the government enacted the Emergencies Act. With Ottawa streets being largely cleared of protesters by the time of the vote, Erskine-Smith's Speech to Parliament condemned the protests, but questioned the necessity of the declaration of emergency, and its approval after the clearance. He ultimately voted to confirm the use of the declaration.{{cite news |last1=Woodward |first1=Jon |date=21 February 2022 |title=Toronto Liberal MP mused voting against Emergencies Act |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/toronto-liberal-mp-mused-voting-against-emergencies-act-1.5790250 |access-date=21 February 2022 |work=CTV News Toronto |publisher=BellMedia |location=Toronto ON}}{{cite web |last1=Erskine-Smith |first1=Nathaniel |date=21 February 2022 |title=[Untitled speech] |url=https://beynate.ca/speech-on-the-emergencies-act/ |access-date=21 February 2022 |website=Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal M.P. for Beaches-East York |location=Toronto ON}}{{cite Hansard|title=Statutory Order|jurisdiction=Canada|house=House of Commons of Canada|date=February 21, 2022|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/House/441/Debates/036/HAN036-E.PDF|pages=2882-3}}

Erskine-Smith has been called Canada's most independent parliamentarian,{{Cite web |date=2019-03-26 |title=Nathaniel Erskine-Smith provides a rare breath of fresh air in the SNC-Lavalin affair |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2019/03/26/nathaniel-erskine-smith-provides-a-rare-breath-of-fresh-air-in-the-snc-lavalin-affair.html |access-date=2020-04-22 |website=thestar.com |language=en}} The National Post has called him a “maverick,” and the CBC referred to him as Ottawa's “least predictable MP.” with the National Post describing him as “maverick”{{Cite web |title=One maverick Liberal on ethics committee not enough to force showdown over SNC-Lavalin affair |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/one-maverick-liberal-on-ethics-committee-not-enough-to-force-showdown-over-snc-lavalin-affair |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=nationalpost |language=en-CA}} and CBC describing him as Ottawa's “least predictable MP.”{{Cite web |last=Wherry |first=Aaron |date=June 17, 2016 |title=The least predictable MP highlights a slightly unpredictable Parliament |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/wherry-erskinesmith-dissent-rebel-1.3639881 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |website=CBC}} Erskine-Smith described his position in an op-ed in the Toronto Star, writing:{{Cite web |date=2019-03-26 |title=Opinion {{!}} Should dissident Liberals stay in caucus? Yes |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/thebigdebate/2019/03/26/should-dissident-liberals-stay-in-caucus-yes.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}

{{Blockquote|text="No political party represents our views perfectly. We find the party that best represents our views and values, and we engage, debate and organize to bring both our party and country closer to those objectives. I am a Liberal MP and I continue to support our Liberal government. But that does not mean that I support every government action taken, or that I ought to refrain from public disagreement. In contrast to blind partisan loyalty, we promised to empower MPs and their communities through more free votes in the House of Commons."}}

Erskine-Smith was raised vegetarian, and is now vegan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/09/09/beacheseast-york-mp-is-a-different-political-animal-delacourt.html|title=Beaches—East York MP is a different political animal: Delacourt|last=Delacourt|first=Susan|date=September 6, 2016|website=thestar.com|publisher=Toronto Star|access-date=October 1, 2016}} He has Crohn's disease.{{Cite podcast|last=Domise|first=Andray|title=Legal Weed is Bad for Poor People|website=Canadaland Commons|publisher=Canadaland|date=February 22, 2016|url=http://www.canadalandshow.com/podcast/legal-weed-bad-poor-people-0|access-date=August 30, 2016|time=19:42}}

Erskine-Smith married Amelia (Amy) Symington, a Toronto vegan chef and nutritionist, on her family farm in Camlachie, Ontario. The two met in an undergraduate film studies course at Queen's University.{{Cite news|last=MacAlpine|first=Ian|url=http://www.thewhig.com/2015/10/26/council-run-helps-fuel-new-mps-success|title=Council run helps fuel new MP's success|date=October 26, 2015|newspaper=Kingston Whig-Standard|access-date=August 30, 2016}} They have two sons, Mackinlay, born in 2016, and Crawford, born in 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.beachmetro.com/2020/01/07/beaches-east-york-mp-nathaniel-erskine-smith-helps-deliver-baby-son-crawford/|title=Beaches-East York MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith helps deliver baby son Crawford|date=January 7, 2020|work=Beach Metro Community News|access-date=March 4, 2020}}

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Erskine-Smith launched the Uncommons Podcast as a substitute for local town hall meetings.{{Cite web |title=Pod save politics: Parliamentarian podcasts allow for deeper dive, wider reach, and more free rein |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2023/01/18/pod-save-politics-parliamentarian-podcasts-allow-for-deeper-dive-wider-reach-and-more-free-rein/361233/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=The Hill Times |language=en-CA}} The episodes feature prominent guests, including members of all major parties, and often seek to showcase his thinking on a given issue. In October 2024, Erskine-Smith hosted both Prime Minister Trudeau and Mark Carney on separate episodes of the podcast.{{Cite news |last=Zimonjic |first=Peter |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Trudeau says it 'bugged' him when Singh ended governance agreement without calling first |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/singh-trudeau-erskine-smith-podcast-1.7340507 |access-date=October 30, 2024}}{{Cite news |title=Mark Carney says Conservative Party 'doesn't understand the economy' on MP's podcast |url=https://financialpost.com/news/economy/mark-carney-says-conservative-party-does-not-understand-economy |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241022151319/https://financialpost.com/news/economy/mark-carney-says-conservative-party-does-not-understand-economy |archive-date=2024-10-22 |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=financialpost |language=en}}

{{2025 Canadian federal election/Beaches—East York}}

{{2021 Canadian federal election/Beaches—East York}}

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{{election table|title=Candidates for the November 13, 2006 Kingston, Ontario Sydenham District City Councillor Election}}

|-

!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Candidate

!colspan="3"|Popular vote

|-

! Votes

! %

! ±%

|-

| style="background-color:#cccccc;" |

| style="text-align:left;" | Bill Glover

| style="text-align:right;" | 1,180

| style="text-align:right;" | 46.24%

| style="text-align:right;" | -

|-

| style="background-color:#cccccc;" |

| style="text-align:left;" | Floyd Patterson

| style="text-align:right;" | 912

| style="text-align:right;" | 35.74%

| style="text-align:right;" |-

|-

| style="background-color:#cccccc;" |

| style="text-align:left;" | Nathaniel Erskine-Smith

| style="text-align:right;" | 297

| style="text-align:right;" | 11.64%

| style="text-align:right;" | -

|-

| style="background-color:#cccccc;" |

| style="text-align:left;" | Alex Huntley

| style="text-align:right;" | 163

| style="text-align:right;" | 6.39%

| style="text-align:right;" | -

|-

| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" colspan="2" |Total votes

| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |2,552

| style="text-align:right;background-color:#c2c2c2;" colspan="3" |

|-

|}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Canadian Parliament links|18483}}
• {{Official website|http://nathanielerskinesmith.liberal.ca/}}
• [https://votenate.ca Campaign Website]

{{Carney Ministry}}

{{Justin Trudeau Ministry}}

{{CanCabinet}}

{{Current Members of the Canadian House of Commons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Erskine-Smith, Nathaniel}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford

Category:Lawyers in Ontario

Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario

Category:People from Old Toronto

Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada

Category:Politicians from Toronto

Category:Queen's University at Kingston alumni

Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada

Category:Members of the 29th Canadian Ministry

Category:Members of the 30th Canadian Ministry