New poll shows NDP leads tight race in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek byelection

A new poll is showing it will be a tight race in the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek byelection, with Ontario NDP’s Monique Taylor in the lead among candidates.

The poll was commissioned by CUPE Ontario and conducted by EKOS Research Associates.

As the provincial byelection approaches on Sept. 3, the new poll questioned voters in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek on several topics including voter intention.

Monique Taylor leads in voter intention, with 38 per cent of respondents saying they would vote for her as the NDP candidate.

Meanwhile, 34 per cent voted for the Conservative candidate Jeff Beattie in this category, 20 per cent for the Liberal candidate Heino Doessing and three per cent for the Green candidate Pascale Marchand.

“This is a tight race between Monique, a proven fighter for workers in Hamilton and Doug Ford’s handpicked candidate Jeff Beattie. As a councillor for Ward 10, Jeff Beattie promised Hamiltonians that their voices would be heard when it came to decisions about their city,” said CUPE Ontario President Yolanda McClean.

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“Now, he’s running to be a part of the government that’s trampling over them. Monique Taylor is a candidate of principle, experience, and a true understanding of the needs of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek residents.”

The poll also found that 57 per cent of respondents disapprove of the way Premier Doug Ford is handling his job.

It reports that 67 per cent disapprove of the Ford government’s handling of hospital funding in Hamilton.

The poll also found that 84 per cent agreed that cutting nursing positions at Hamilton hospitals will mean longer wait times and worse care.

Conducted between Aug. 18 and 24, this EKOS interactive voice-response poll surveyed 355 voting-age residents in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

The data was weighted by age and gender and has a 5.2 per cent margin of error, 19 times out of 20.

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