It was another blue wave through Ontario.
Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government rolled to a convincing, third straight majority during a winter election on Thursday night.
In the local riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Conservative Steve Clark jumped out to an early lead and was declared the winner less than an hour after polls closed.
“I think people in my riding and across Ontario have responded to Premier Ford’s message. It’s been over 50 years since we have had a back-to-back-to-back PC majority government.”
Clark said that is something that reflects confidence in the premier and the local MPP.
“So I am going to start tomorrow and do exactly what I have done for 15 years as MPP and that is work hard and get results for my constituents.”
Clark hovered around 55 per cent of votes for most of Thursday night.
He won with nearly 57 per cent of the vote back in the 2022 provincial election.
Liberal Lorna Jean Edmonds finished second in the riding with 27 per cent of the vote, while Chris Wilson of the NDP picked up 9.8 per cent and Green Party candidate Fiona Jager picked up 4.6 per cent.
“People resonated with the premier’s message,” Clark added.
“He is Captain Canada and has articulated people’s concerns. It is when not if that Donald Trump does the tariffs so we need a strong government…that does what needs to be done to keep our economy moving forward.”
Provincially, the NDP, led by Marit Stiles, finished a distant second while Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals finished in third spot. Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner retained his Guelph riding, one of two seats for the party.
Clark and the Conservatives have held the riding since 2010.
