BRACEBRIDGE — The Liberals and NDP have their candidates and now the Conservative Party is set to replace Tony Clement in just over a month from now.

The electoral district association in Parry Sound-Muskoka announced Friday, May 17, that the nomination vote to select a local candidate will be held at the end of June.

That’s according Holly Thompson, a chartered accountant and Bala resident, who sent out a release today.

In it she responded to the news by saying: “I am excited that we now have a voting date, and I am determined to win both the nomination and the election in October.

“We have a large, diverse and hard-working team across the riding and the enthusiastic support at our kick-off event and at many events since then has me feeling a lot of momentum.”

Former party candidate Clement, an independent MP now after a sexting scandal forced him out of the party, announced in the winter he will not run.

Thompson added: “I’ve been out meeting people across the riding for months, from South River to South Muskoka, and what I’m hearing at the doors is that people are ready for a fresh face who is ready to step up and lead with new energy and new ideas. With my deep roots in the riding, going back five generations in Bala, and my extensive experience in business as a chartered accountant, I believe I am the right candidate to get results for our community in Ottawa.”

Thompson says in the release that her extensive experience advising businesses, large and small, is unique among the expected candidates and is critical to a riding like Parry Sound-Muskoka where small and mid-sized business is the life-blood of the economy.

“I’ve been working very hard getting out across the riding to meet people face-to-face, so I can listen to their views and concerns.

“I am hearing consistently that the people here in Parry Sound-Muskoka want high quality jobs, not just seasonal employment. They want investments in broadband internet to help create those jobs. They want affordable housing to be built. And they want a plan to protect our environment and protect against flooding like we’ve seen this year without Justin Trudeau’s crippling carbon tax.

“I have a plan to address these issues, and I look forward to sharing my vision with my friends and neighbours here in the community.”

Residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka must be members of the Conservative Party in order to vote in the upcoming nomination contest.

CPC riding nominations close May 30.

Riding president Stephen Darling (grandson of longtime party MP Stan Darling) told MuskokaTODAY Friday that he’s as much in the dark about the date of the nominating meeting as anyone.

He said it’s the party “that drives the nomination bus” and that he got the same email today, himself.

And he’s awaiting the same details.

Meanwhile, he was doing other interviews about the flood situation, telling News1010 Radio in Toronto that while most people suffering flood damage won’t receive insurance coverage, some will.

He said the flood’s effects will be seen in “the bottom line” of some insurance companies.

For more information about Holly Thompson and her campaign, please visit www.hollythompson.ca; or your can email her at info@hollythompson.ca and phone (705) 706-1501.

The election is Oct. 10 and the Liberal candidate is Trisha Cowie; the NDP candidate is Tom Young.

NOMINATION MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT MAY 17

I am writing to advise you of the opening of the Conservative Party of Canada’s nomination process in the Electoral District of Parry Sound–Muskoka.

Nominations close on Thursday, May 30.

Anybody who wishes to be a Nomination Contestant must submit their completed nomination application to Conservative Party Headquarters, 130 Albert Street, Suite 1720, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G4, by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 30.

You are receiving this notification because you are a current member of the Conservative Party of Canada residing in the Electoral District of Parry Sound–Muskoka.

Anybody who wishes to be eligible to vote at the nomination meeting; the date, time and location of which will be announced at a later date; must be a member of the Conservative Party of Canada and residing in the Electoral District of Parry Sound–Muskoka as of Thursday, June 6th, 2019. New memberships must be received by Party Headquarters by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 6th, 2019. Memberships can be purchased online until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 6th, 2019.

You are receiving this notification because you are a current member of the Conservative Party of Canada residing in the Electoral District of Parry Sound–Muskoka.

Anybody who wishes to be eligible to vote at the nomination meeting; the date, time and location of which will be announced at a later date; must be a member of the Conservative Party of Canada and residing in the Electoral District of Parry Sound–Muskoka as of Thursday, June 6th, 2019. New memberships must be received by Party Headquarters by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 6th, 2019. Memberships can be purchased online until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Signed: Dustin van Vugt, executive director, Conservative Party of Canada