WHY VOTE PC? WHY VOTE GREEN? WHY VOTE AGAINST ‘CARE CLOSER TO HOME?’

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com OPINION

PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Time to definitively vote — one way or t’other.

First, why would anyone in Gravenhurst vote PC after yet another government failure to secure the fates of the former Ontario Fire College and Muskoka Centre?

And why vote for the Greens when they talk about helping small businesses then advertise on Facebook and with Toronto media rather than supporting Local Journalism?

Voting always important — is a personal democratic right. A freedom of expression and equality.

Vote for the candidate who thinks like you.

It’s a delicate balance, just as long as you vote — one way or three others.

In Parry Sound-Muskoka the choice is stark: Tories or Greens.

Moreso than in June 2022 when Graydon Smith won his first time with 20,216 votes over Matt Richter at 18,102.

That leaves 6,154 votes up for grabs from the remaining runners’ supporters.

Enough for the Greens to make up triple the ground they need.

Or for Conservatives to rally to numbers Norm Miller once enjoyed.

Greens are optimistic, Tories nervous.

Can Smith rely on Parry Sound-Muskoka’s traditional Big Blue party faithful who may be aging out — despite an influx of rich replacements moving in who are fortunate to find an attainable home?

That at the expense of a growing number of younger and more active senior climate changers.

Party or premier? Depending on how you see it, Smith either works for Doug Ford or has him as an anchor or albatross.

Richter says he’s his own independent man — but as deputy leader is as tied to Mike Schreiner as Smith is to Ford. Maybe moreso. It’s difficult to tell who’s the Green candidate here — deputy or leader.

I’ve known Smith for decades since we were both District of Muskoka councillors along with MP Scott Aitchison. They Conservatives; I a southpaw.

Smith was known for working the back rooms at district, one mayor telling me he would say one thing in the council chamber then go behind and lobby staff another way.

Aitchison felt that betrayal over the hospital issue when the former Bracebridge mayor pulled a fast one on him by buying and donating to MAHC the same land, ironically, where the south Muskoka hospital may now be destined to land. This under the nose of his then Huntsville counterpart when it looked like a “one hospital” could end up in Port Sydney.

That was more than a decade ago.

Tomorrow the hospital will be deciding factor in this race.

Smith has Parry Sound’s support — including its Liberal mayor — no doubt after former Tory MPP and premier Ernie Eves gave them their own new hospital not long ago.

South and west Muskoka — as pleased as they are with a new hospital replacement — isn’t happy at Smith coming late to the party in defence of a “full-service” health care facility. His intervention could improve bed count at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.

Still, vocal opponents feel SMMH will be an unequal ancillary partner to what is proposed at Huntsville.

Key voters in Bracebridge could turn their backs on their generally well-liked former mayor and — along with residents in Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes — help decide the result after 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27.

No final decision has been made by the Ministry of Health on MAHC’s submitted redevelopment proposal now being considered.

Richter in his sixth run for the seat — and the NDP candidate — both said on the weekend they’ve been told the $1B+ in hospital funding is in the bank with Infrastructure Ontario. And there is no need to worry about it whichever party wins locally.

Huntsville is the prize for both Richter and Smith.

Oddly Conservative in nature adjacent to Algonquin Park, Huntsville is PS-M’s largest community. But south Muskoka has more patient needs doctors there say.

Will Smith stand up for all PS-M patients north and south? Or is Richter the man to ensure “care closer to home?”

MuskokaTODAY.com’s five informal “anonymous” surveys with 74 people the past two weeks in Bracebridge and Gravenhurst — among Muskoka voters who lived all across the district — show Green voters were almost double the Tories: 42-22 and with 20 people undecided.

As at the end of weekend advance polls more than 10,000 votes were cast, which will likely be 25 per cent of the final count tomorrow night.

According to province-wide polls the Liberals and Leader Bonnie Crombie are cutting in to the Conservative majority lead and the NDP’s falling opposition status.

Local numbers haven’t been disclosed by parties, though the Greens said Monday it will be “close again.”

In Parry Sound-Muskoka health care, doctors, housing, groceries, post secondary education and jobs are top of mind with internet service always mentioned in terms of permanent and seasonal growth. Eight issues the government’s record is flawed on.

A Smith campaign mail out this week cites “vital infrastructure” and transportation investment under his watch. All tax dollars, of course, which are annually returned to every riding municipality on a regular basis regardless of party stripes.

As well, he claims to have added “more health care workers and expanded access to connected, convenient primary and hospital care.”

Tax increases haven’t factored in publicly.

Not unless you’re talking to the Greens whose same literature noted: “Hospital and ER shutdowns; family doctor shortage (2.5 million all parties agree — 20,000 in Muskoka); and longer ER wait times.”

Schreiner promises fully-funded hospitals, doctors for everyone and “care when and where your family needs it.”

He’s also focused on “protecting our farms, forests and waterways.”

But you know political promises. Think Trump and shifting tariff deadlines.

And what Ford said about “Getting it done.”

The Greenbelt, Ontario Place Spa and a Mississauga tunnel dream have gotten dishonourable mentions among angry voters.

But Donald Trump certainly did among both the left and the right — the latter who falsely believe the premier has sway with the president. Even if Ford did turn his back on the Republican leader over tariffs after first saying he was glad 47 won in November.

So where does this leave local voters with hours to go?

Up to you.

But! If you want four(?) more years of the same, you can return Smith who technically was unseated with the writ.

Or as one survey respondent said think smarter when checking your mark.

“This region needs to focus more on more of smart development. More sustainability and less suburbian sprawl. And not cutting down trees. We have to protect our rivers. Do smart things. Not just provide jobs. I absolutely like the environment. But smart. I’m not a tree hugger. I’m a person that believes we have a really good chance to make a difference and bring balance. And to do smart. There’s new ways of building now. There’s new ways of doing community stuff. And we’re not embracing them.”

As for Richter, will this nice guy finish last again where it counts — second to Smith?

Could he be another strong voice at Queen’s Park to advocate for what Greens and many in PS-M believe in.

Even if he’s just echoing the good job Schreiner is doing?

Will one more question period opportunity do that?

Conceivably we hope.

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