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Low Voter Turnout In Provincial Election

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Encouraging advance poll results did not carry over to yesterday’s vote as turnout was extremely low.

It was only 28.66 per cent in Kiiwetinoong, however the riding had staffing issues that resulted in voting hiccups and polls being open for an extra two hours.

Voter turnout in Kenora-Rainy River was only 38 per cent.

It was almost 43 per cent in Thunder Bay-Atikokan as well as Thunder Bay-Superior North.

Province-wide just over 43 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

That is the lowest since 2011.

(With files from Randy Thoms)

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Rickford Wins Kenora-Rainy River Again

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Greg Rickford has won re-election in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding.

The Progressive Conservative candidate took just over 59 percent of the vote.

Rickford says he didn’t take the riding for granted.

“We ran this election from third place because I lost once and finished third,” says Rickford.

“I respect the electorate and I want to thank the candidates from the other parties. Kenora-Rainy River is one of the largest ridings. Its a tough slog, but I think tonight the folks of Kenora-Rainy River sent a clear message.”

Rickford adds that he has his marching orders for the next four years.

“First is the keep on doing the things that we’re doing. Clearly that was a measure of the success we had tonight. But the other was to listen to the people who answered their door. More than 17,000 people. That’s unprecedented as far as I know by any standard.”

JoAnne Formanek Gustafson finished a distant second with 20 percent of the vote, while Anthony
Leek of the Liberals was third with 11 percent of the vote.

(Percentages based on 83 percent of the polls counted)

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Flooding Overshadows Provincial Election

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The flood situation in northwestern Ontario has been the backdrop to provincial election campaigns in the Kenora-Rainy River and Kiiwetinoong Ridings.

Anthony Leek is the Liberal Candidate in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding and says it’s not easy getting his message out because of evacuations and flooded roads.

“It throws another wrench in what going on,” says a philosophical Leek.

“I mean we’re doing the best we can and I hope people stay safe out there and we’ll just do what we can on the campaign trail. If we can’t access certain areas, hopefully the people that are affected are safe and that there’s minimal damage.”

What is also different in this election campaign is that there has been no all-candidate forums in either the Kenora-Rainy River or Kiiwetinoong Ridings.

The election will take place on Thursday.

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Leek Ready For The Campaign

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The Liberal candidate for the Kenora-Rainy River Riding has hit the ground running.

Anthony Leek was nominated by the party just last week.

He says having a strong team behind him is crucial.

“It’s really important to have a strong riding association that’s still together and it’s just a really a matter of reconnecting people that have not been connected over the last little while and maintaining that in the long term,” explains Leek.

He suggests there’s lots of work to do in the weeks ahead.

“It does make it a little more difficult when you have a shorter amount of time, in terms of prepping behind the scene. But in terms of getting the name out, and having the opportunity to see and meet people, at the end of the day, when people decided to vote, they decide to vote.”

Leek currently lives in Kenora and is the president of the Liberal Riding Association and this is his third election as a candidate.

He is just one of eight candidates in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding now.

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Comuzzi Ready For 2022 Provincial Vote

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The Conservatives have their candidate for the next Ontario election in Thunder Bay-Atikokan.

Riding President Brandon Postuma says Maureen (Moe) Comuzzi will be nominated, and run against sitting MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell.

The riding president feels Comuzzi is the best candidate because she loves her community more than any other. “That’s what this job is. Taking messages from your riding and bringing it to Toronto, and making your voice heard. Right now, that’s not happening and it’s very frustrating for anyone involved with the government in any way.”

Comuzzi has run for city politics, and federally, for the Conservatives twice.

June 2, 2022 is the scheduled Election Day in Ontario.