Another candidate has dropped out of the race to represent the Liberals in Scarborough-Southwest after Leader Justin Trudeau's endorsement of former Toronto police chief Bill Blair.

The Liberals are running open nominations across the country, but the fact that two candidates have bowed out in the suburban riding reinforces the sense inside and outside the party that the Liberal establishment can impose its choices upon members.

"There was no guesswork there," former nomination candidate and journalist Michael Kempa said of Mr. Trudeau's action. "He explicitly said he would hope to see Bill Blair in Scarborough-Southwest. ... It's clear [Mr. Blair] is the choice of the party for this election."

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The open-nomination process has been credited with bringing fresh blood to the Liberal Party, but has also created divisions among members and fostered tensions in some ridings. Most of the party's "preferred" candidates have emerged victorious in their ridings, sometimes after rivals were disqualified during the vetting process, leading to allegations of foul play.

Mr. Blair announced his intention to run for the Liberal nomination in Scarborough-Southwest last month, when he retired from the Toronto Police Service. Former CTV anchor Tim Weber dropped his bid for the nomination shortly after, joining the Blair campaign as a co-chair and endorsing the former police chief as "the champion our community needs."

Mr. Kempa dropped out on Wednesday, saying the contest had become "financially unsustainable" for him.

He said he had been expecting the arrival of a well-known figure in Scarborough-Southwest. A New Democrat represents the riding now, but the Liberals think they can win it in the next election.

"From the beginning, Justin Trudeau and key organizers in the Liberal Party said that they would indicate preferences in some of the open processes," Mr. Kempa said. "If you cannot beat somebody with the stature of Bill Blair, that is your personal failing."

Mr. Blair could not be reached for comment. On Twitter, he thanked Mr. Kempa for his "considerable contribution to public discourse," as well as his "hard work" on behalf of residents of the riding.

In addition to Mr. Blair, five candidates remain in the nomination race in Scarborough-Southwest. The party has yet to set the date for the vote.