On Thursday, residents of the York-Simcoe electoral riding will vote for a new face to represent them at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The riding covers Bradford West Gwillimbury, East Gwillimbury and Georgina. It also includes the municipality of King (north of Regional Road 31) and the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation Indian Reserve. Created in 2007, the riding has been a stronghold for Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives, with Julia Munro maintaining the seat from its inception to 2018, only to be succeeded by Caroline Mulroney. Mulroney, daughter of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, was elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for York-Simcoe in 2018 and maintained the position until 2026. In her time with the Doug Ford government, she served as minister of francophone affairs, minster of transportation, attorney general of Ontario and president of the treasury board. Mulroney announced her resignation from her position in late May. Who’s running? Matt Pearce is running for the York-Simcoe by-election on behalf of the Green Party of Ontario. Pearce works in automotive manufacturing. Naomi Davidson will be running for the position on behalf of the Ontario Liberal Party. Davidson is a small business owner. Sean Conroy is running for the MPP position on behalf of the Ontario Libertarian Party. Conroy works in live event production. David Ghobrial is the New Blue Party of Ontario’s candidate for the MPP position. Ghobrial is a physician. Babak ‘Bobby’ Nikmard will represent the Ontario New Democratic Party in Thursday’s by-election. Nikmard is an education worker. Gerarld Auger is running for the MPP position on behalf of the Ontario Party. Susan Lahey is the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario’s candidate for Thursday’s by-election. Leahy is a small business owner. For more information on where and how to vote, visit the Elections Ontario’s website.
