Ontario Nipissing by-election campaign
NEWS (May 16): From Toronto Star:
McDonald wins Nipissing vote
Tory clings
to narrow lead after recount
Caroline Mallan, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU CHIEF
The Ontario Conservatives have clung to their narrow win in the by-election
race in the Nipissing riding of former premier Mike Harris. A judicial
recount conducted yesterday ended with the decision to award the seat
to Tory Al McDonald by a slim 19-vote margin over Liberal challenger George
Maroosis.
The May 2 vote's initial tally gave the win to McDonald — North Bay's deputy mayor — by just four votes, while a later count raised the lead to nine votes. That number grew after each ballot was re-examined by the returning officer in front of a judge. Any contested ballots are then examined by the judge, who determines the final count.
The Liberals have until tomorrow to decide if they want to appeal the judge's decision but last night Liberal party president Greg Sorbara said an appeal is unlikely. "We accept the decision of the judicial recount," Sorbara said, adding that while disappointed that the Liberals did not win the seat, he thinks the narrow margin is a warning to the government of Premier Ernie Eves that their grasp on the electorate is slipping. Sorbara said the win no doubt had a lot to do with the more than $100 million in hospital funding for the riding committed to by the government during the campaign, along with the government's decision to back away from its plans to sell Hydro One — the provincially owned electricity transmission grid. Assuming there is no appeal, McDonald could take his seat in the Legislature within two weeks.
The newest member of the Tory caucus has already earned himself the nickname "Avalanche Al" — a play on Eves' moniker of "Landslide Ernie" after he won his first, 1981 election to the Legislature by just six votes. A spokesperson for the McDonald campaign said "We're enjoying a second victory celebration." The standings in the 103-seat Legislature are: PC 56, Liberals 36, NDP 9, Independent 1, vacant 1.
NEWS (May 10): As of May 10, no winner has been declared in Nipissing. A judicial recount began on Friday May 10th. There are concerns that the election may need to be rerun, because of irregularities. The race was so close that half a dozen votes could decide the winner, and there are reports that some election officials gave wrong information to some voters which may have affected the outcome. There are no allegations of election fraud, just honest mistakes, but enough mistakes that the integrity of the election may be in question. Deciding the winner of Nipissing may take some time.
NEWS (May 3): Progressive Conservative candidate Al MacDonald has won in Nipissing by 9 votes. However, as the win is less than 25 votes, the law requires a judicial recount. See official results at Elections Ontario. Once the final results are confirmed and the poll by poll data is available, EV will prepare a final report.
Environment Voters is campaigning in the Ontario by-election in Nipissing to "punish" the Progressive Conservative government for its poor environmental record.
Since the Walkerton tainted water tragedy the PCs have changed their rhetoric about the environment, and even restored some funding, but the improvements are insufficient to actually improve Ontario's environment.
In the area of wildlife protection, the PCs are moving ahead on legislation that could hand over control of Ontario's wildlife to hunters and fishermen. This is irresponsible and will threaten wildlife in Ontario. Indeed, the new Minister of Natural Resources appeared in a National Rifle Association fund raising infomercial.
Ontario still remains a staunch opponent to the Kyoto global warming protocol.
The Environment Voters campaign includes an Open Letter distributed to homes in North Bay as an insert in the North Bay Nugget, a 30 second radio spot, newspaper advertising, and a volunteer-based telephone canvassing bank.
Environment Voters is supporting the Liberal candidate, George Maroosis.
Election Day Thursday 2 May
Campaign materials:
Environment Voters
"Open Letter to the Voters
of North Bay and Nipissing" (will open in new browser window)
Environment Voters 30 second radio spot
(MP3 file).
Banner ad running on cover of North Bay Nugget TV Times
Related Links:
George Maroosis
Liberal party web
site
North Bay Nugget newspaper