KENORA — For the third time in a row, Greg Rickford will be the Kenora–Rainy River riding Member of Provincial Parliament.
As a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Rickford has led another successful campaign that has him earning 60 per cent of the votes for the area that spans nearly 2000 square kilometres. His win, he said, was hard-earned with an effort put forward by his entire team.
“It’s pretty cool I’ll tell you that,” he said. “I’m just so grateful for the constituents. I’m ready to get back to work.”
He has spent the last month knocking on doors talking with members of the communities he has served for the last two terms hoping to garner their support for another. His said his main takeaway from the experience is that people are asking a lot of questions when it comes to Canadian-American relations.
“I would say six out of ten doors I knocked on, that was at the top of their issues,” he said, adding that “the uncertainty has a direct connection to what’s going on in the United States and the recklessness by which we were treated from the Trump administration. The very real threat of tariffs would affect Ontario disproportionately to other provinces.”
Since part of the riding borders on the United States Rickford said he intends to continue friendly relations with folks in Minnesota. But a strong Canadian voice should not be ignored, nor should the protection of Northern minerals and natural resources.
“In the greater picture of things, it’s on baby! We’re ready and we’re up for it.”
Other topics concerning constituents at their doors included health care, highway safety and critical infrastructure.
He thanked his team, his family and his opponents whom he recognized their hard work running during this election, as well.
Rickford defeated NDP candidate Rudy Turtle who earned just over 3,330 votes, about 19 per cent, and Liberal candidate Anthony Leek who came in a close third.
Turtle said he and his team worked hard to get his second place finish with 3,308 votes in the riding.
“We are kind of disappointed with the outcome, but we did the best we could.”
He noted that the 27-day campaign timeline was difficult.
“We could have done more and visited more places.”
He was also concerned with problems that came with establishing polls on First Nations. Grassy Narrows First Nation only got an official poll set up late afternoon on election day. Voter cards that never made it to residents created difficulties to know where to cast their vote.
“It was confusing.”
Turtle was glad to be able to talk with residents about concerns like education, housing and health care – top of mind for most he conversed with while knocking on doors.
Leek gained votes over his last elevation campaign, up from about 1,800 to just over 3,000. Although he didn’t win he see this increase as a sign.
“I think that people are looking for a bit of change.”
He said it was challenging with such a short amount of time to really establish his campaign but was glad to have met so many people in the riding. He hopes to take this growth and manifest it to grow the Liberal Riding Association for the next election.
“I think with politics you never know what’s going to happen and how things are going to change.”
The Green's John Redins and independant Randy Ricci each picked up about 2 per cent of the vote.
