Simcoe-Grey returns Saunderson with ‘strong mandate’
If it’s a strong mandate the PC Party of Ontario was looking for last night, Simcoe-Grey certainly delivered.
The Progressive Conservatives capped off election day Thursday securing a third majority government, with one of at least 80 seats going to Brian Saunderson, who got 53.55 per cent of the vote. Unofficial results from Elections Ontario show Saunderson got 30,572 votes, providing a wide spread between Liberal opponent Ted Crysler’s 18,549 votes.
Saunderson celebrated his victory with supporters at Bear Estate in Collingwood, entering the room to applause, wearing a beat up work coat that became his signature look for the campaign.
Once at the podium Saunderson shed the coat, which he admitted was borrowed, in favour of a blue sport coat.
“I can’t think of anything more Canadian than campaigning in a snowbank and I want to thank everyone here. My first words really are to thank the constituents of Simcoe-Grey for their support. I’m humbled. And yet again, residents of Simcoe-Grey prefer a Ford to a Crysler,” said Saunderson to an eruption of laughter.
He credited his success to his incredible team of volunteers and a great message.
“We have been working so hard at Queen’s Park over the last two-and-a-half years particularly in this riding,” Saunderson told the audience.
He noted that the riding will see more than $600 million in committed funds for schools, infrastructure, hospitals, and manufacturing.
“We are growing hand over fist in this community and the province is recognizing that,” said Saunderson from the podium. “For 15 years we were in a dark zone and now we are getting a very bright light shone on us, which is a great testament to this government’s understanding there is life north of Highway 9 – a lot of life, and we’re growing.”
Of $1.3 billion in infrastructure funding, one in 10 dollars of provincial funds were allocated to Simcoe-Grey during his term.
“This is a government that understands the importance of this community, the importance of this riding,” said Saunderson.
He said Ontario is a bellwether for Canada’s economic engine.
“We have complex issues. We’re not going to solve them overnight but we’re moving in the right direction,” said Saunderson. “Today’s result tells us the people of Ontario understand that, appreciate that, and they want us to do the important work we’ve started.”
He said the big issues in this election have been about protecting Ontario and the investments the government has been making, along with jobs, affordability, and housing.
“These are all critical issues that are affecting every one of us and if we have a step backward because of what’s happening with the tariffs south of the border, that’s going to be a very big issue for us,” said Saunderson, adding that U.S. President Trump is in place for four years but there is long-term thinking needed when it comes to Canada’s largest trading partner.
“We will survive this and we will grow. We will sustain,” he said. “When the chips are down, we’re bigger – we’re a bigger country in terms of our heart, our determination, and our will to survive. And we will not be cowed. We will continue to protect Ontario and we will continue to champion Canada and this is what this day means because we have a renewed mandate to do all of that and I’m looking forward to getting back to Queen’s Park.”
“As your representative I will do what I have been doing for the past two-and-a-half years which is live, breathe and speak Simcoe-Grey,” said Saunderson in closing.
Unofficial Election Results for Simcoe-Grey
PC Party of Ontario – Brian Saunderson, 30,572
Ontario Liberal Party – Ted Crysler, 18,549
Ontario NDP – Benten Tinkler, 3,264
Green Party of Ontario – Allan Kuhn, 3,154
New Blue Party – David Ghobrial, 1,554
Number of registered voters: 128,213
Locally, voter turnout was 44.53 per cent, up from 43.32 per cent in 2022.
