Who will be the candidate?

With a Provincial election scheduled for October 6th, 2011 we all know who most of the candidates will be in Simcoe-Grey.

For the PC's we have the current MPP - Jim Wilson who's held the seat since 1990.
For the Green Party we have their leader Mike Schreiner.
For the NDP I believe Katy Austin will be taking another crack at the can.
For the Liberals we have ?????

Yes so far nobody has even expressed an interest in running for the Provincial Liberals in our riding, and why on earth would anybody want to. From my own experience in 2007 when I ran for the Liberals I started making the calls in late 2006, and got the run around for several months going from one person to another at the Central Party. I spoke with previous Liberal candidates in  our riding and while they support the party, and at the time so did I, they told me that they know that this is "Conservative Country" and little effort is put into the riding by the party. The riding association was and still is a very small group of people who still stand behind the party.

I've been asked by a few people who are interested in seeking the nomination for the Provincial Liberals what to do, and how to go about it. My answer is you better start now if you want to get the nomination, or if you leave it too late you risk the chance of them just getting some intern at Queens Park who works in the offices of the party to be the candidate. I suspect that might be the case unless the people who have expressed an interest to me get the ball rollling, and announce now that they are seeking the nomination.

Trust me it's not going to be easy to be a Liberal running in the Provincial Election in our riding. Jim Wilson will focus on the lack of attention made by the Liberals in our riding. He will focus on the following issues:

1.) Medical Labs
2.) Energy Costs
3.) Transporation, i.e. Hwy. 26, Traffic light along Hwy. 89
4.) Health Care - Lack of doctors, lack of senior care
5.) Education - Closing of schools, and lack of schools in places like Wasaga Beach.
6.) Taxes, taxes, and more taxes.
7.) Broken promises
8.) Farming issues

I could go on and on, and whoever the Liberal candidate will be he/she will be spending their time fighting off attacks from Wilson. So where does that leave the other candidates? The NDP will come in either 3rd or 4th. This race will be between Jim Wilson and Mike Schreiner, the Leader of the Provincial Green Party. I know that some are saying that Schreiner is crazy for running in the most secured Conservative riding in all of Ontario, but I feel that while his chances of winning are not good, he will give Wilson a run for his money, and maybe that's why we are seeing Mr. Wilson out more in the riding, and speaking out more on the issues then he ever did since his first election in 1990.

Until next time!