2014 Provincial Election

Simcoe-Grey groups have candidates lined up for Ontario election

Alliston Herald

SIMCOE-GREY - Ontario voters are heading to the polls June 12.

Leading up to this week’s Ontario budget, it was anticipated that the minority Liberal government under the leadership of Premier Kathleen Wynne would not get the support needed from the Progressive Conservatives and New Democratic Party to pass the document.

Early on, PC leader Tim Hudak indicated he would not support the budget, but it wasn’t until NDP leader Andrea Horwath spoke out against it Friday morning that a spring election was confirmed.

In Simcoe-Grey, riding associations have been readying themselves for a potential election. While the official writ won’t drop until next Wednesday, most of the local parties have their candidates lined up.

Incumbent Jim Wilson is running for the Progressive Conservatives. Wilson was born and raised in Alliston and lives in Wasaga Beach. He was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1990 and has held the seat since.

In February, the Liberals selected Collingwood businessman Lorne Kenney to run in the riding. Before the riding association’s meeting where he was acclaimed as the candidate, he said he wanted to run because of the faith he has in Wynne.

For the NDP, Wasaga Beach resident Dave Matthews, who ran for the party in the last provincial election, is once again the party’s candidate.