Candidates hit the campaign trail with provincial election just over three weeks away

With less than a month until the provincial election, London's MP hopefuls hit the campaign trail this weekend, CTV London's Brent Lale tagged along.

In minus-10-degree weather, London North Centre (LNC) incumbent Terence Kernaghan wedged a lawn sign in the snow.

“Doug Ford has called an unnecessary election,” said Kernaghan while door knocking on Lorne Ave Saturday.

Candidates will be battling the ice and snow over the next couple of weeks going door-to-door ahead of the first provincial winter election since 1981.

“I think what (Doug) Ford is trying to do is he’s hoping to catch people while they’re asleep,” said Kernaghan.

“He wants to see a low turnout because he doesn’t want people to know his record. It’s unfortunate what’s happening in the United States with Donald Trump and his threat of tariffs, and Doug Ford is using that as an excuse. He’s saying that he needs to call this election because he needs a strong mandate. What he’s not admitting is that he already has a strong mandate. He has a majority government and will continue to have one for another year and a half.”

While Kernaghan tries to keep the seat he’s had in LNC since 2018, London city councillor Jerry Pribil is trying to dethrone him. He’s taken a leave from council to run for the Progressive Conservatives.

He said he has a passion for public service, and his time on council has given him an adrenaline rush.

“I keep hearing more and more that in London North Centre we need a strong representation at Queen’s Park,” said Pribil while campaigning in North London.

“We need a seat at the table where the decisions are made and for someone to not just to fight for London, but also deliver the results for London.”

Liberal Candidate Tariq Khan expressed frustration that taxpayers will foot the bill for the $189 million dollar election.

The software developer said he knocked on over 1,000 doors over the weekend.

“I find every one-in-four are without a family doctor, so that’s over 120,000 people in London without a doctor,” said Khan.

“We guarantee that everybody will have a family doctor, as we are going to spend $3.1 billion.”

He said while knocking on doors he’s hearing that residents are frustrated.

“The last six years, things are getting worse because we don’t have any money from the province because there are no (Progressive Conservative) provincial reps in London,” said Khan.

“People are [saying] that we want our politicians to be honest and trustworthy. So, they should not tell a lie. Ford has given us $200 from our own money, and now he’s asking us to stand in minus temperatures to give him [another four year] term of empty promises. No Way!”

The other candidate running in LNC for the Feb. 27 election is Carol Dyck of the Ontario Greens. Dyck has run for the Green Party in each of the last two provincial elections, and also federally in 2019.