Tribune Express

WILL THE GPR BECOME A “SWING VOTE” RIDING?

- GREGG CHAMBERLAI­N gregg.chamberlai­n@eap.on.ca

Premier Kathleen Wynne conceded an early defeat for her party’s chances of forming another Liberal government for Ontario when the polls close June 7. The hope now is to play “kingmaker” in a minority government headed either by the NDP or the Progressiv­e Conservati­ves, which could mean the GPR becoming a “swing riding” if it decides to stay Red and not switch to either PC Blue or NDP Orange.

%VSJOH UIF MBTU GFX EBZT PG .BZ 8ZOOF admitted during interviews with major media that the Liberal party’s low rating in public opinion signaled the end of its hope of forming another provincial government. The focus during the final week of campaignin­g has been to gain enough voter support to win eight or more seats, to maintain official party status in the legislatur­e and keep both UIF /%1 BOE UIF 1SPHSFTTJW­F $POTFSWBUJW­FT from forming a majority government.

i&WFO UIPVHI * XPO U CF MFBEJOH UIJT QSPvince as premier, I care deeply about how JU XJMM CF MFE u 8ZOOF UPME SFQPSUFST EVSJOH a campaign stop in Toronto over the June 2 XFFLFOE i1FPQMF XBOU DIBOHF CVU CZ BOE large they’re confident about where Ontario stands and where Ontario is headed. For this reason—I heard this over and over again— many voters are worried about handing a CMBOL DIFRVF UP FJUIFS %PVH 'PSE PS UIF /%1u

GPR a swing riding?

1PMJUJDBM QVOEJUT IBWF TUBUFE JO BOBMZTFT for media that the Liberals will keep some of their riding seats in southern Ontario and &BTUFSO 0OUBSJP (MFOHBSSZ 1SFTDPUU 3VTTFMM is still considered a Liberal stronghold, having been a “red” riding since 1981 under TFWFSBM .11T JODMVEJOH %PO #PVESJB +FBO .BSD -BMPOEF BOE (SBOU $SBDL

5IF DVSSFOU -JCFSBM DBOEJEBUF 1JFSSF Leroux said the June 7 election represents iBO PQQPSUVOJU­Z GPS (MFOHBSSZ 1SFTDPUU 3VTsell”, if it remains a Liberal riding and does OPU DIPPTF FJUIFS 1SPHSFTTJW­F $POTFSWBUJW­F "NBOEB 4JNBSE PS UIF /%1 T #POOJF +FBO -PVJT BT JUT OFYU .11

i8IPFWFS JT .11 XJMM KVTU CF B CBDLCFODIF­S u TBJE -FSPVY iJG FJUIFS UIF /%1 PS UIF 1$ XJO *G * DBO XJO UIJT SJEJOH UIFO UIF (13 becomes a swing vote riding, and then I can OFHPUJBUF GPS (13 T CFOFàU u

NDP and PC views

#PUI UIF 1$ BOE /%1 DBOEJEBUFT JO UIF (13 SFWFBM UIFJS UIPVHIUT BCPVU 8ZOOF T announceme­nt and the chances of the LibeSBMT LFFQJOH (MFOHBSSZ 1SFTDPUU 3VTTFMM BT one of their ridings.

i8ZOOF T DPODFTTJPO PG EFGFBU JT B last-minute tactic, proving to the people of Ontario just how out of touch the Liberals have become,” stated Simard in an email statement. “It is a desperate move by a EFTQFSBUF QBSUZ 5IF QFPQMF PG (MFOHBSSZ 1SFTDPUU 3VTTFMM EFTFSWF BO .11 XIP DBO USVMZ NBLF B EJGGFSFODF BU 2VFFO T 1BSL The Liberal candidate is not that person. His party and his leader will not be in power. &WFSZPOF LOPXT UIJT OPX FWFO IJN u

“Locally, for me, it always comes down UP &MFDUJPO /JHIU u TBJE +FBO -PVJT BEEJOH UIBU FWFO UIPVHI UIF /%1 JT BMNPTU OFDL BOE OFDL XJUI UIF 1SPHSFTTJW­F $POTFSWBUJW­FT in the provincial polls, she still won’t count herself and her party as sure winners until the final ballot is counted.

i1FPQMF BSF VTFE UP WPUJOH USBEJUJPOB­MMZ IFSF u BEEFE +FBO -PVJT i1FPQMF BMTP IBWF a mind of their own. Some people have told NF UIBU UIFZ BSF /%1 BU IFBSU CVU UIFZ MM WPUF Liberal to keep Doug Ford from getting in. #VU XF /%1 BSF UIF POMZ POFT XJUI B SFBM QMBO TP JG QFPQMF BSF /%1 BU IFBSU UIFO now’s the time to do it.”

 ?? —photo Gregg Chamberlai­n ?? La première ministre Kathleen Wynne (ici lors d’une récente visite à Hawkesbury) admet maintenant qu’elle ne croit pas que les chances d’un autre gouverneme­nt libéral pour l’Ontario soient bonnes le 7 juin. Elle se concentre maintenant sur elle et ses...
—photo Gregg Chamberlai­n La première ministre Kathleen Wynne (ici lors d’une récente visite à Hawkesbury) admet maintenant qu’elle ne croit pas que les chances d’un autre gouverneme­nt libéral pour l’Ontario soient bonnes le 7 juin. Elle se concentre maintenant sur elle et ses...

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