RIDING REMAINS TRUE BLUE, WITH 45 PER CENT OF THE VOTE; GREENS DOUBLE TO 40 PER CENT
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Voters remained true blue to the Tories last night as the riding remains in Conservative hands for another four years.
Graydon Smith, with 20,216 votes, overcame a growing Green movement, which saw Matt Richter almost double his vote count to 18,102 from 9,438 in 2018. Four years before that the five-time challenger had just 7,484 supporters.
In 2018 retiring MPP Norm Miller won with 22,662 votes.
This latest result may have been close — though not nearly as close as Green supporters dreamed of and many predicted.
Without the Liberals in the race — and a huge jump in non-traditional protest party voters at 2,813 (there were just 478 in 2918) — Smith was able to again hold off Richter and New Democrat Erin Horvath who came in at 3,391.
In 2018 Liberal Brenda Rhodes garnered 4,071.
In 2014 Miller took the seat with 15,761.
So while Smith is going to Queen’s Park Richter is going back to school as a teacher and will resume his small foods business.
Richter hasn’t ruled out a sixth run in 2026, but will consult his family first.
Depending on how Premier Doug Ford performs in the interim in dealing with the environment, affordability and health care — and meet unforeseen challenges — Smith’s first term could include a second.
Local Liberals and the NDP are spent forces right now and — like their leaderships — need new life and blood.
All three top parties in the riding didn’t fully embrace the future online where voting life and influence have taken hold.
They remain rural in their campaigning.
Richter admits he could have done more.
Most of Smith’s supporters think he will represent them well, while some admit to not being totally true blue.
“I support you — not the PCs” was an oft heard comment on social media post election.
Voter turnout in Parry Sound-Muskoka was 53 per cent — 10 per cent higher than the province, which was a historic low for Ontario. There were 83,570 eligible voters. Four years ago 59 per cent of the 80,180 eligible voters cast ballots. That’s 47,479 residents.
Despite coming up short again in PS-M, Green godfather Glenn Hodgson remains optimistic, saying last night in a pre-result celebratory atmosphere of more than 100 supporters “This is a celebration for everyone. But it’s Matt’s night.”
He said: “The fact is people are voting Green now (in great numbers). They’ve started and they’re listening and paying attention. They know we have a solid platform and great leader.
“I think the situation is right now were going to elect Green MPs and MPPs in this riding. People doubted it before — they’re not going to doubt us now.”
Hodgson, who has to take credit for the rise in his party’s fortunes after first running in 1997 in both provincial and federal races, said “When I look around this room … I see my friend Bill who helped m put out signs in 1999.
“All these people are still here and supporting us,” 25 years later.
A fair enough appraisal and assessment of his party’s rise in climate.
But compared to the old Tory Blue Machine they’re hardly out of the starting blocks in terms of organization, support and results.
Still, waiting the results in the giddy Green romper room was far more fun than among the nervous adults-only business crowd gathered at the Kirrie Glen golf course in Bracebridge. There the party quickly wrapped up by 11 a.m., barely an hour after the final result was announced.
Smith — in familiar casual blue sweater and his blue sleeves already rolled up — was among the last to leave as he held court, listening and accepting belated congratulations.
And anticipating a busy day of phone calls and emails his first day as MPP-elect.
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