Parties position ahead of spring byelection in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
CBC
The race to replace MPP Monte McNaughton in the southwestern Ontario riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex will move into high gear in the new year, with two runners now locked in as candidates to represent the Doug Ford conservatives.
No date has been set for the spring byelection, but the vote has to happen before the end of March, six months after McNaughton bowed out of politics to join gaming giant Woodbine Entertainment.
His departure meant the loss of one of Doug Ford's most trusted cabinet ministers at a time when the Greenbelt controversy was making headlines at Queen's Park.
Since then, the Ontario Liberals have named a new leader in Bonnie Crombie.
Western University political science PhD candidate Sam Routley thinks it will take a major shift to flip the rural riding from Tory blue.
"I think the expectation is that the byelection isn't going to be too competitive," said Routley. "I think it's pretty well regarded as a PC stronghold. And so the real question is 'Who are the PC's going to select here?' Because they're trying to replace a cabinet minister. They're looking for someone who can bring some assets to that caucus."
With party nominations closing on Dec. 10, the contest for the PC nomination is now a two-horse race between Steve Pinsonneault and Neal Roberts.
Pinsonneault owns a sign shop in Thamesville and has served on Chatham-Kent council since 2006. That puts him in the heart of the riding, which spans from just west of London to Lake St. Clair. Pinsonneault said the high cost of daily expenses, in particular the cost of housing, will be a top-of-mind issue for voters.
He supports the Doug Ford government's moves to speed up construction to boost supply.
"Even to rent an apartment here now, it's gone way up simply because of the shortage of housing," he said. "The PC government is supporting building houses and you've got to do that. Rent will come down once you have sufficient housing."
Squaring off against Pinsonneault is Roberts, who heads the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service. In that role he's often spoken publicly about the challenges facing ambulance service, whether it's a need to modernize dispatch or calling on municipalities to increase their contributions to the service.
Roberts said his experience on the health-care frontlines makes him an ideal candidate.
"I fully understand the desire for health-care improvements," he said. "And this government continues to invest in health care."
Roberts said he will take a leave of absence from the ambulance service if he wins the nomination, and will retire from the post if he's elected in the byelection. Roberts lives in Thorndale, which is outside the riding, but he doesn't feel that will be a factor.
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