Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Graydon Smith defied defeat tonight as local PCs came out in more numbers to hold off the improved Greens for a second time in 36 months.

In the end it wasn’t even close as many locally and provincewide thought it would.

The returning MPP’s loyal Conservative faithful went to the polls for him with 21,723 votes (up 1,497 from 20,216 he had in 2022) and 46.8 per cent of this vote.

Tonight Richter received 19,360 votes (up 1,258 from his 18,102 in 2022) and 41.7 per cent of the ballots cast today, Feb. 27, 2025.

That’s a difference of 2,371 votes between the two two-time opponents.

In the last election in 2022, Smith won over Richter by 2,114 votes.

Both parties increased their counts as more voters turned out: 46,426 today compared to 44,558 on June 2, 2022.

The other votes tonight went to the Liberals’ David Innes 2,822 (6.08 per cent); New Democrat Jim Ronholm 1,329 (2.86 per cent), New Blue Brandon Nicksy 785 (1.69 per cent) and Ontario Party’s Helen Kroeker 403 (0.87 per cent).

That’s 5,339 votes the PCs and Greens missed out on.

This as Doug Ford and the PCs won a third straight majority with 80 seats, Marit Stiles and the NDP are back as the Official Opposition with 27 seats. The Liberals returned to party status with 14 seats — though Leader Bonnie Crombie failed to win in Mississauga where she’s a former mayor.

The Greens won 2 seats and there was 1 independent seat winner.

Before the election the PCs had 83 seats, the NDP 31, Liberals 8, Greens 2, and there was 1 Independent.

Smith celebrated at the Mill on Main Street in Huntsville and Richter didn’t attend his party at the nearby Canvas Brewery in Huntsville before the PCs were declared the winner at 9:45 p.m. He arrived just after 10 p.m. hugging his wife.

Mike Schreiner and Aislinn Clancy were the Greens winners in Guelph and Kitchener Centre.

In his victory remarks in his riding, leader Schreiner said: “I also want to take a moment now to thank a great friend, Matt Richter. A deputy leader of the Greens, Matt has run many times (six) and this time yet again he came so, so close.

“I know that tonight is not the results that we wanted and that Matt wanted. But I want Matt to know that you will always be a champion in my heart. You lead with honesty, integrity and commitment for your community.

“And if there was every anyone who deserved to be an MPP it’s Matt Richter.”

2022 PS-M results:

PC — 20,216

Green — 18,102

NDP — 3,391

ONP — 1,649

NBP — 883

IND —  155

POP — 126

Votes cast — 44,745 (Valid 44,558)

Eligible — 84,280

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