PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — We’re asking: who will you vote for Feb. 27?

And how did you like Monday’s night’s provincial election debate — if you watched it.

No. 2 – Feb. 20

Across Muskoka Wednesday afternoon they weren’t at all hesitant and said told MuskokaTODAY.com the following …

“I’m fed up. Graydon’s a good person and was a good mayor, but it stops there. Green!”

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“I’m not all that comfortable with Ford, but the only reason he’s getting my vote is because he’s got the b…. to stand up to Trump. What Trump is doing is devastating. As for the other three (leaders), I never saw such weak debaters. Ford was the only one who gave a viable answer to how he would defend against tariffs. The Greens don’t have it and I don’t like Schreiner.”

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“Oh my gosh, where do you begin. Doctors is a big issue. There is a shortage. But I don’t know who I’m voting for — it’s terrible. I just haven’t thought about it.

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“I’m voting PC. The other night with the debate, I found the two women were obnoxious and not at all complimentary (to the premier). No not for me. There’s a lot of families happy to get the ($200) cheque. There’s a lot families who really happy to get them. We didn’t need it. But it’s hard to decide who’s going to get it and who’s not. Unless you attach a dollar value to the income. That should have done it. But we donated it right back to the community.

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“No I have not made a final decision.”

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“I don’t know. Green or (Tory) Blue. Locally I like the Green guy.”

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“Green. Because I like everything he (Richter) stands for this area. I’m not crazy about Ford right now. I’m voting locally this year. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I vote provincially. I think Matt Richter can good do good for this riding. And I don’t know who the Liberal candidate.  Bonnie Crombie the other night was terrible. She just kept attacking Ford. Nasty, nasty. On a grander scale, I guess Ford would do the best of the four of them with Trump. We just need a gun.”

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“Graydon. When it comes to the Green Party, they sit as independents. They don’t have party status. I think the world of Matt. He’s a great guy. And he’d be a good MPP. But you need to be part of party in power.”

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“I’m also going to (back PCs), but not necessarily Graydon. I don’t believe the other parties are going to do anything but charge us higher taxes. Nobody talked about fiscal responsibility. They should take a page out of the U.S. playbook on government costs.”

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“I have to vote for Graydon. The reason is the Green Party is a thinly-disguised mixture between the Liberals and the NDP — and there’s a lot wrong with the Liberals and NDP.”

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“Yes. We’re gonna go Conservative. I like the direction other than Doug and digging that friggin’ hole in the 401. They’ve done a lot of thing in respect to transportation and infrastructure.”

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“No commitment yet. But I have to get a few answers yet. They said they were going to come visit and they haven’t yet. We’ll see if they do. And that will certainly influence the vote, because if we can’t get answers to the questions ….”

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“The Greens because I don’t think the Blue has done that much for us.”

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“I have decided. I’m going Green for many reasons. I’m dissatisfied with the current leadership. And I think the Greens are the only option we’ve got. All levels. Unless things change before the federal election whenever that is. Hospital and the entire mismanagement of that file. Housing certainly is local issue that has been handled very badly by the local municipality and province. I think at both levels we are seeing the expression of a set of values that I don’t believe in. So that’s making it very difficult.

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“I haven’t made up my mind yet. Honestly I find the whole political thing overwhelming. I’d love to learn more about it. But I need to need to know what I’m doing. I didn’t vote last time, because I was all overwhelmed by stuff.”

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“Can I be honest, I’ve never voted. I, too, don’t understand politics. I can’t wrap my head around it. Maybe I will do it this time. My hubby tells me that I need to. I feel like I would just pick someone because I have to.”

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“I haven’t decided. I have to read more documentation. There are lot of issues. I have to decide who’s covering all the issues. I didn’t like any of the candidates last time. This one I don’t think the candidates are covering the issues that I think are important. I listened to the debate and I deal with small business owners and I don’t think anybody is covering the small businesses issues at all. They’ve got problems getting insurance and loans. They’ve just got problems staying in business because there is pressure on keeping their fee low, but the cost are high. I don’t know if the province can help. But I think a positive attitude toward business would be really helpful on the provincial and federal side. I think there is a very negative attitude. They stepped up in the pandemic but they’re coming and taking it back. And in some cases that is an issue. Also the province has stepped up what they require for employees. But you can’t expect employees to work but your are expected to pay them. And that’s a really big problem right now.”

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“I got a phone call last night, but I’m undecided right now. I know I should by now.”

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“I haven’t decide. I know it’s a week away. I didn’t watch the debate, because you know everybody BSs. Just a lot of hot air. My wife and I will probably talk about it and decide before we walk in.”

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“Liberal. I’ve always voted Liberal, but I don’t know who the candidate. I’ll know when I see it. I remember when Pierre Trudeau came to town and they presented him with red canoe he held over his head. I have photo of it somewhere.”

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“We’re going to vote Blue. Graydon Smith. I’m voting myself for the premier Doug Ford as the person of the top four as the person who is going to handle our financial situation best. I feel the same because the other leaders are going to be able to negotiate properly with the states and what’s going on there and the tariffs. I think we need a strong voice to speak up and say what’s necessary. No we didn’t listen to the debate. I just find the women are too busy bad-mouthing Ford and not talking about their own issues.”

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“I didn’t watch the debate. But I think the election is just par for the course.”