Voters in southwestern Ontario have not changed the political map too drastically, but have sent some new faces to Queen’s Park, including the province’s only independent elected MPP.
In the heart of the Waterloo region, history was moving in the right direction, with New Democrat MP Catherine Fife being re-elected for a fourth term in Waterloo.
“Very humble for Waterloo’s support,” Fife told CTV News on Thursday night after his victory. “Every time I introduce my name, they say, ‘Keep fighting.’ I’m happy to answer the call!”
In the neighboring Kitchener Center constituency, Laura Mae Lindo of the NPD was re-elected for a second term.
“He’s humble. I think that’s the word for me today,” Lindo said. “It’s humble to know that the people at Kitchener Center want me to keep up the good work.”
Kitchener South-Hspeler. Jess Dixon will take over from the Conservative Progressives.
He takes the reins of his fellow PC Amy Fee, who announced he would not seek re-election in August.
Kitchener-Conestoga will also remain blue, with Mike Harris Jr. re-elected for a second term as MPP of the circus.
Cambridge once again becomes a PC on horseback, choosing Brian Riddell.
“I will do my best for them and I hope they have a very positive four years,” Riddell told CTV News.
Brian Riddell speaks at CTV News at his election night party at the Friends of Cambridge restaurant on June 2, 2022. (Ricardo Veneza / CTV News).
NO SEATS FOR THE NEW BLUE
Cambridge was previously represented by Belinda Karahalios of the New Blue Party of Ontario.
“I feel very energized, which maybe people don’t expect me to say,” Karahalios told CTV News. “Of course I’m disappointed with the results, but we’ve done a lot.”
Her husband and party co-founder Jim Karahalios finished fifth in Kitchener-Conestoga.
The party did not win seats, but Jim said they are proud to have submitted a full list of candidates and to have received as many votes as they did.
“Across Ontario today more than 100,000 voters said they are tired of the establishment parties and are with the New Blue Party of Ontario, and this is a good step forward.”
GUELPH IS GREEN
Guelph remains green with leader Mike Schreiner re-elected for a second term.
Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner delivers his acceptance speech for election night in Guelph, Ontario, after being re-elected on Thursday, June 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS Martin
Schreiner remains the only green MP in the province, despite hopes that the party could have won a second seat in the legislature on Thursday night.
“To all our candidates across the province … thank you for sharing our vision and increasing our total votes,” Schreiner said.
INDEPENDENT ELECTION IN HALDIMAND-NORFOLK
Perhaps the biggest wave of change was seen on the shores of Lake Erie, in the Haldimand-Norfolk cavalcade.
Bobby Anne Brady is seen at her campaign office in Simcoe on election night, June 2, 2022. (Terry Kelly / CTV Kitchener)
Independent Bobbi Ann Brady defeated PC candidate and Haldimand mayor Ken Hewitt, becoming the only elected independent MPP in the province.
Meanwhile, Perth-Wellington stays on the computer with newly elected MPP Matthew Rae, while the familiar PC faces also return to Brantford-Brant with Will Bouma and Wellington-Halton Hills with Ted Arnott.