Candidates campaigning in challenging election
Progressive Conservative candidate Brian Saunderson spent Family Day knocking on doors before heading to Alliston to see the Hornets take on the Siskins.
It is part of his team’s effort to reach his supporters and make sure they vote, either at the advance polls this week or on Election Day.
This provincial electoral district is considered a safe Conservative riding, nevertheless, Saunderson said he has a team of more than 60 volunteers working the phones, canvassing and organizing events.
“We campaign like we’re losing every day,” said Jamie Berman, Saunderson’s deputy campaign manager who was making the rounds with him on Monday.
Most residents were out in their driveways digging out from the previous night’s snowstorm, as another unrelenting squall was rolling in.
Wading through several feet of snow to get to many doors, or catching residents panting from shovelling, Saunderson introduced himself to everyone he met and invited questions.
Most people said they either had none or were too preoccupied by the snow they still had to shovel to even think about politics. It is one of the challenges of calling a snap election during the snowiest February in recent memory.
Those who were chatty lobbed a host of concerns that blurred boundaries between provincial and federal portfolios. Top of mind was national sovereignty and Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Many pointed to Saunderson’s “Canada is not for sale hat,” nodding in agreement.
Their other concerns included cost of living, doctor shortages, access to long-term care and the economy.
When asked if he agreed with Doug Ford calling an election at this time, 18 months early, Saunderson said, “Under these circumstances I think it was necessary.”
He said the dialogue has changed since the 2022 election.
“We’ve got to do everything we can to help out Canadians,” said Saunderson.
He said protecting Ontario’s manufacturing sector could mean new trading partners, and has certainly resulted in renewed Canadian pride.
“This government has invested heavily in automotive and manufacturing,” said Saunderson. “In the automotive sector, about 90 per cent of our vehicles go south of the border and many parts that go into those vehicles cross the border seven or eight times. So the issues that we are having south of the border could have a very catastrophic effect on our economy, in manufacturing and also spin-off jobs.”
He said there are many examples of this cross- border relationship, in many industries.
“With affordability being an issue, that could have very, very significant impacts for Ontarians and Canadians.”
In 2022, with voter turnout at 43.32 per cent, Saunderson, the former mayor of Collingwood and retired lawyer who had a Stayner practice, won with 27,060 votes over Liberal Ted Crysler, also a lawyer, who got 11,680 votes.
Crysler hopes things will be different this time around.
He said his team is hearing discontent from voters who are annoyed about the timing of the election and see it as a power play by Ford to get another term before the federal election.
He said, indeed, the U.S. tariff threat is distracting voters from other provincial election issues, with health care being a priority for Bonnie Crombie and the Liberals.
“We were willing to work across party lines which [the PCs] should have taken advantage of,” said Crysler, while sitting down at a café in Stayner. “It’s frustrating.”
One thing voters want to know about him: Is he local? Having been born and raised in Collingwood he says that is important to people. They want to know they would be represented by someone local.
Crysler is executive vice president of the Liberal party’s Rural and Northern Commission which is tasked with reaching out and improving citizen engagement in rural and northern ridings. He said the Liberals are focused on advocating for the needs and viewpoints of rural citizens like those living in the riding of Simcoe-Grey.
His top issues in this election are affordability and health care.
A big part of the Liberal’s platform is about access to doctors. The Ontario Medical Association has warned 2.5 million people across Ontario don’t have a family doctor and that number will grow to more than 4.4 million people by 2026. According to Health Force Ontario, there are 2,600 vacant physician positions across the province, a number nearly identical to January 2024.
“Life has become more expensive over seven years,” said Crysler, “and privatization of certain health care procedures has made it more expensive.”
“People get it,” he said. “They can’t get a doctor or a nurse practitioner in their community.”
He said it is common for people who have moved to the riding to travel back to their previous community to see their primary care providers.
The data shows that health care deserts are getting to be so big that people are traveling farther and farther to see a doctor.
Crysler says, at the same time, the Progressive Conservatives are closing emergency rooms in rural communities, mainly due to nursing shortages, making it even harder to get access to care.
Agriculture is also top of mind for Crysler, understanding it is the main economic engine of local communities, along with small business. He said farmland is being lost at an alarming rate.
“The Conservatives ignore rural Ontario,” he said. “Voters have to ask themselves, what are you really getting from this government? Maybe it’s time for a change.”
He said he is 100 per cent behind Crombie, calling her a great centrist.
The Ontario NDPs have nominated Benton Tinkler as a parachute candidate for Simcoe-Grey. No information is available.
Angus resident Allan Kuhn is returning as the candidate for the Green Party of Ontario.
David Ghobrial is on the ballot for the New Blue Party
Advance polls are open at the Stayner arena on Feb. 20 and 21. Voter cards will show local polling stations on Feb. 27.
Trina Berlo photos: Progressive Conservative candidate Brian Saunderson stops to chat with Bill Blackburn, who was out clearing driveways on Monday, during a canvassing session in Creemore which caused the incumbent to have to wade through feet of snow to reach some doors. Liberal candidate Ted Crysler (inset) is sending out mailers targeted at each community in the riding.
