Here are the candidates vying to represent Parry Sound-Muskoka

Here are the candidates running to represent the Parry Sound-Muskoka riding.

It might be the dead of winter, but the race to represent Parry Sound-Muskoka at Queen’s Park is heating up.

The riding proved to be one of the most interesting ridings in the province during the 2022 election, with the Progressive Conservatives only winning the riding by less than five per cent over the Green Party.

“You’ve got to work like you’re in last place so you can end up in first place, that’s always been motto,” said Incumbent Graydon Smith, on the lessons he learned three years ago.

Smith spent Thursday canvassing in Gravenhurst, stopping to help residents shovel their driveways and fielding questions along the way.

The former Bracebridge mayor said he often hears about the cost of living, housing and healthcare as key issues from residents when going door-to-door.

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Smith also dawned a toque with the phrase “Canada is not for Sale” on it, echoing his party leaders' message of the threat of a trade war with the United States.

“There’s implications here in Parry Sound-Muskoka economically,” Smith said. “We want to make sure that people’s jobs are protected and our economy stays strong.”

Green Party candidate Matt Richter hopes that his sixth time running will prove to be the one that sends him to Queen’s Park.

Richter came within just about 2000 votes from Smith in 2022.

Canvassing near his Huntsville campaign office on Thursday, Richter said he’s hearing from residents that it’s time for a change, and that he can provide it.

“I don’t work for Mike Schreiner, leader of the Ontario Green Party, I don’t work for Doug Ford,” Richter said. “I take my marching orders from the people who vote me in.”

Richter said his campaign focuses on issues important to residents in the region, bringing about fairness and accountability.

Richter specifically called out key Ford government infrastructure projects, like Highway 413 running through the York, Peel and Halton regions and the costly $2.2 billion provincial share of a planned spa located at Ontario Place.

“All these billions of dollars in reckless spending down in the GTA, makes no sense in the GTA and definitely doesn’t make sense for us up here in Parry Sound-Muskoka,” Richter added.

The local New Democrat hoping to make a strong push in the region, is a sitting councillor from the Township of Strong.

Jim Ronholm said choosing to run for the NDP came down to values that he finds within the party’s platform.

“This party has more of a human focus than many others,” Ronholm told CTV News.

Ronholm said that one key issue he’s found within the region, is that of access to primary care.

“We’re talking about nurse practitioners and nurses, we’re talking about dietitians, rehab workers,” Ronholm said. “All these things could be part of family health teams to reduce the load on the doctors themselves.”

The Ontario Liberal party is fielding David Innes, who declined to speak with CTV News.

Helen Kroeker will represent the Ontario Party and Brandon Nicksy of the New Blue Party rounds out the ballot.

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