The Niagara West-Glanbrook riding is up for grabs, after Progressive Conservative Tim Hudak resigned back in September.
This byelection is one of two provincial byelections happening today. The other is in the Ottawa-Vanier riding. The PC’s are hoping to make history in both. The Niagara West-Glanbrook riding has been a Tory stronghold for years, whereas Ottawa-Vanier, is staunchly Liberal.
In Niagara West-Glanbrook, if 19-year-old PC candidate Sam Oosterhoff wins, he would become Ontario’s youngest-ever MPP.
The first-year Brock University student has been vocal about his pro-life values and his criticism of premier wynne’s sex-ed curriculum. He caused quite a stir when he beat out party president and former MP for St.Catharines, Rick Dykstra.
CHCH News caught up with Ooosterhoff today after he cast his ballot in Vineland. “People are tired of the damage the Ontario Liberals have been doing here in Ontario and they’re ready for change and I’m excited to make change a reality,” Oosterhoff told media, “I just cast my first provincial ballot for myself which is quite a great feeling.”
The young candidate says he will spend the rest of the day door-knocking.
Also running, is Liberal candidate Vicky Ringuette, a Hamilton lawyer and strong advocate for francophone rights. Although soaring hydro rates seem to be one of the key issues in these two byelections, with many angry and frustrated with Wynne’s Liberals government, Ringuette maintains she hasn’t heard any complaints from voters in her riding.
Mike Thomas is running for the NDP seat. The former Hamilton Police officer claims rising electricity rates is the biggest issue.
Donna Cridland, meantime, is running for the Green Party, and says the natural beauty of the area, including the escarpment, is at risk.
There are nine candidates in total running for the Niagara West-Glanbrook seat.
As of this Monday, according to preliminary figures from Elections Ontario more than 4500 voters cast their ballots in advanced polls, in comparison to more than 7,000 back in 2014.
In Ottawa-Vanier , former Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin is running for the cCnservatives. PC party leader Patrick Brown says that’s the ‘safest Liberal seat in Ontario’ but says if the Tories come close, it will show the Liberal government no longer has the confidence of the public.