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You are here: Home / News / Is the Parry Sound-Muskoka riding about to turn Green?

Is the Parry Sound-Muskoka riding about to turn Green?

By Dawn Huddlestone On May 26, 2022 News

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Main image: A Mainstreet Research poll of Parry Sound-Muskoka voters. Green represents the Green Party, dark blue is the PC Party, orange is NDP, grey is undecided, and light blue is the remaining candidates. (Graphic: Mainstreet Research)

If the results of a recent poll are any indication, the answer to the above question is yes.

A Mainstreet Research poll conducted on Tuesday, which posed the question ‘If the provincial election were held today, how would you vote?’ to 450 Parry Sound-Muskoka constituents of voting age, the Greens’ Matt Richter came out on top at 39 per cent, followed by Graydon Smith of the PC Party at 30 per cent.

The remaining results were as follows: 14 per cent were undecided, 11 per cent expressed support for NDP candidate Erin Horvath, and the remaining seven per cent were split between Doug Maynard of the New Blue Party, Andrew John Cocks of the Ontario Party, and ‘another candidate’. Brad Waddell is running for the Populist Party and Daniel Predie Jr is running as an independent. There is no Liberal candidate for this riding.

The poll was conducted via automated telephone survey. The margin of error for the poll is +/- 4.6 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level.

When undecided voters leaning toward a specific party are taken into account, the Greens’ share of the poll rises to 43 per cent, while the PCs narrow the gap slightly with an additional six-per-cent share to place them at 36 per cent.

Election day in Ontario is June 2, 2022. Advance polls are open now. Find details on when and where to vote at elections.on.ca.

See the full poll results here.

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Reader Interactions

24 Comments

  1. Dudley Reid says

    May 26, 2022 at 9:27 am

    As it should be. What other area has so much nature to protect and leave as a legacy.

  2. Thomas R Spivak says

    May 26, 2022 at 10:27 am

    Its time for change in Muskoka.
    The Conservatives have enjoyed a long tenure in Muskoka and not everyone would agree that its been for the best.
    Tony Clement did serve us well but Scott Aitchison ( our do nothing rep) brought an end to the glory days.
    Graydon Smith is a good man, but he’s just to close to Doug Ford.
    The conservatives took away from Ontarians and then when things got tough they gave some back and tried to make it look like they were our saviors.
    As has been proven by the pandemic, there is loads of money for highways no one wants, corporations that make millions, and yet our hospitals, health care workers, and long term homes are in a systemic decline due to lack of funding. People wait years for surgery and I’m being told that the dirty little secrete is we are being triaged with a growing back load that means some us will never get the care we deserve.
    Muskoka’s wave of development and destruction of what makes us Muskoka needs to be dialed back.
    We have no plan for the future regarding the environment, waste disposal, or protecting our waterways.
    Our municipalities are bowing down to developers and cutting the throats of those that wish to help support the homeless, the poor, and our retirees.
    Its time for change and we can’t just keep voting for the Conservatives because dad did, gramps did, and his dad did.
    Vote for a change that will benefit us all.

  3. Hans Johnsen says

    May 26, 2022 at 10:37 am

    Lots of other areas have a lot of nature to protect. Just saying.

  4. Chas Clark says

    May 26, 2022 at 11:04 am

    The polls are forecasting an overall win for the Conservatives. If Muskoka goes green what are the chances that we will still get the funding promised by the Conservatives for two new hospitals? Around zero i think.

  5. Brian Samuell says

    May 26, 2022 at 11:58 am

    And so it begins…

    As the old boys network loses its control over politics the next generation is now taking it’s turn and changing the focus of politics towards repairing the damage and restoring the world for the younger generations that are stuck with what we’ve left them.

    It’s about time.

  6. Bill Atkinson says

    May 26, 2022 at 11:59 am

    Richter’s lead in this poll is both good news and not-so-good news.

    It is good for all the right reasons… these are contained in the Green platform and in Matt’s record of dedication to Parry Sound-Muskoka.

    It is not so good because the publication of the poll result may lead to complacency on the part of would-be Green voters whose votes are needed to make this poll lead a reality on June 2nd.

    Vote in the Advance Poll to preserve this lead!

  7. Bob Braan says

    May 26, 2022 at 12:08 pm

    It’s no wonder green Matt Richter signs are everywhere.

    Graydon Smith didn’t even show up for the Sundridge debate.
    Very disrespectful to voters.
    He likely assumed he could cruise to a win like Miller.
    Not this time.

    Just like Ford, Smith is all about development at any cost.
    Turn Muskoka forests into Mississauga barrens as fast as possible.

    Forget zoning and planning rules.
    That’s all just red tape.
    Neighbours, residents and conservation objections are just more red tape.

    Developers know rules will be changed to suit whatever they want.
    Not the other way around.
    Build anything, anywhere.

    Starting with wiping out trees needlessly in many areas of Bracebridge, for example.
    Leaving it barren for many years.
    Across from Home Depot, near the new high school and most recently at Travelodge along the road where you can’t build anyway.
    Disaster.

    It’s no wonder green Matt Richter signs are everywhere.

  8. Lynn Bennett says

    May 26, 2022 at 2:13 pm

    It is time to vote “GREEN”, vote for “MATT RICHTER”!!!

    Matt and Mike will fight for our hospitals and so many other things that are important to us who live in the Near-North – affordable housing, health and long-term care including mental health, reestablishing passenger rail, and of course our environment.

    Stop letting the Conservatives “threaten” us — “If you don’t vote for us you wont’ get……!!”

    We need to stop being ‘bullied’ into voting for the Conservatives. We need to ask ourselves what have we gotten for being so loyal over the last 147 years. Muskoka Region has been represented by Conservatives for 113 years! No other party has represented us at Queen’s Park since 1995. What have we gotten for investing in them?

    During the one debate where voters saw a Conservative in action vs. hiding out, Ford said he could work with the Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner — well let’s see Ford do just that if he is still the leader after June 2nd.

    VOTE GREEN, VOTE MATT RICHTER!! It’s time for a change – send a clear message to Queen’s Park – Times Up!

  9. Hugh Mackenzie says

    May 26, 2022 at 8:02 pm

    If this is accurate, bye bye new hospital. It may not be pleasant but it is a political reality. Governments of all strpes, Liberal, NDP and Conservatives, look after their own Ridings first, Everything otherwisewlse is a lower priority. Please think about that. We will only have ourselves to blame.

  10. Brian Thompson says

    May 26, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    My first concern about voting for the Green candidate is that he will not be part of the Provincial Government after this election or part of any government in the foreseeable future.
    In past elections, Provincially and Federally, I have voted for the candidate most likely to be part of the governing party and would have influence on helping our riding going forward.
    That worked well for me after voting for Andy Mitchell as a Liberal and then for Tony as a Conservative….(landslide Clement)…when he was part of the Government that brought G-8 to the riding….
    So my point is obvious,
    I will vote for the candidate most likely to be part of Government and to be in a position to bring the most to our riding in 2022 and so my vote is for Graydon Smith….
    I have worked with Graydon and have no doubts that Graydon is by far our best bet for Parry Sound-Muskoka.

  11. Jeff Hubbell says

    May 27, 2022 at 4:02 am

    I recall Parry Sound was tge first place the Greens showed some real strength in Ontario back around 1989-1990 with a fellow named Richard Thomas, I think. He’d been a local reeve, and was also a farmer and writer.
    (He also did commercials selling Maple Leaf bacon, dressed in a plaid lumberjack jacket and living in a log cabin — in the commercial anyway. )

    Anyways at a time when the Green’s could not field a full slate, and the ones they DID have were pulling in some 50 – 500 votes each, Thomas came in second in Parry Sound with over 4,000.

    Passed away in the early 2000s, IIRC. But I bet if he haunts the polling stations he’d be pleased.

  12. Murray Christenson says

    May 27, 2022 at 5:54 am

    From what I can see this is a wobbly sample and results could swing wildly. On the surface, it does appear that a combination of greens benefiting from lack of a liberal candidate and the conservatives vote splintered with the new parties taking a chunk out of the PC vote.
    Let’s hope this doesn’t come to pass. We’re fortunate here to have someone like Graydon pick up the baton from Norm Miller. Having an someone who has actually run and won elections, had to be responsible for all voters in his community and more importantly, be responsible for taxpayers dollars is an indispensable quality. Pair that with electing an MPP who will part of the governing party and you have a winning combination that will benefit all people in our riding.
    Health care is the top issue here and getting our hospitals rebuilt is critical for a community that skews older as ours does. Let’s stop having to travel hours for care and get Graydon elected so he can continue his work on the healthcare file.

  13. Bob Slater says

    May 27, 2022 at 7:58 am

    WOW! … No jobs .. No investment … No infrastructure .. Remain in a ‘time warp’ .. No development .. no housing .. No economy etc etc .. folks .. you can not have it both ways! .. Remember the libs had 15 years and did nothing for Muskoka! Remember you need people working ,,paying taxes .. spending $$$ ..or .. you continue as the libs did for Muskoka .. ie have NOTHING! There is reality and consequence and benefit and you can’t live in a fantasy world and remain stagnant!

  14. Anna-Lise Kear says

    May 27, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Ah, Mr. Mackenzie, your comment brings all into plain view: you said, ” If this is accurate, bye bye new hospital.”

    The hospital promises are indeed quid-pro-quo for voting Conservative, the hi-jack, the bribe – lets call it what it appears to be.

    Do you mean to say that with a minority Conservative government that DF would be vindictive enough to abandon the hospital promises to Muskoka? As a political step, if he abandoned this promise, it could seal the return of Conservative representation in this area (think federal as well as provincial). There are citizens/voters with long-term memory.

    Has DF ever shown himself vindictive? Of course he has (think the decrease in the number of counsellor representations in Toronto civic politics, which he imposed as soon as taking provincial office)!

  15. Diane Baranik says

    May 27, 2022 at 9:21 am

    We need an MPP who will advocate for our climate. We don’t need
    another Ford puppet. Another highway or bypass is not the answer.

    Promised hospital funding doesn’t help our health care if we don’t have nurses to staff them. Ford has consistently made cuts over the past 4 years. Our nurses will tell you.

    Please think about our future and the future for our grandchildren.

    Thank you.

  16. Allen Markle says

    May 27, 2022 at 10:20 am

    The hospitals are falling!!!! The hospitals are falling!!!!! Oh the Humanity!!!!
    Give me a break.
    Those constructions are (hopefully) in the future, if…..(remember the doggie and the poo and the bunny?) And they are a Ford/ conservative promises. Look around and see how well a lot of those have turned out. “Buckabeer” flew like a bus.
    Now we have ex and about to be ex-politicos asserting to each other, and to anyone who chooses to take the bait, that all the promises they made, during their tenures, they delivered on! So this present group of ‘Fordies’ can do no worse! Our well being is in such good hands.
    And the idea that a locally elected will get to sit down with Doug and brainstorm a few ideas is laughable. He or she will tout the party dogma or sit in a corner.
    Hugh McKenzie brands all parties the same, tending to their own first. Maybe. Likely. Kinda’ sad.
    Then let’s give something new a shot.
    “To boldly go!”

  17. Patrick Flanagan says

    May 27, 2022 at 10:51 am

    Will the PCs get us 2 hospitals if elected?

    Last month, Premier Ford committed $14 million for additional hospital planning, and “earmarked” $500 million for the actual redevelopment. I am confident that the committed amount will be spent, but am not so gullible as to treat the “earmarked” amount as a done deal.

    Here is the difference between committing and “earmarking”. This morning, I committed $10 for planning my 100th birthday celebration, and “earmarked” $10 million to be spent on the actual party. You will be invited if you send me a valuable birthday gift next week. Please just dream about the lavish party, and ignore that I don’t have $10 million, and could change the plan for any reason at any time between now and 2046.

  18. Anna-Lise Kear says

    May 27, 2022 at 11:42 am

    Amen, Brian Samuell.
    Greens (progressives), get out and vote, take nothing for granted.

  19. Sandy McLennan says

    May 27, 2022 at 1:25 pm

    “bye bye new hospital” Ah, so vote under threat ought one? A perfect example of why I voted (yes, you can vote now – go do it, it’s a gift not to be declined) for a future that is concerned with issues and big problems, not buddy debts and backroom agendas.

    “someone like Graydon pick up the baton from Norm Miller”. Next in line. Did Mr. Miller drop “it”? Don’t think he ever had it under such a power and ego-based “leader”.

    Good to see people considering a future with thought and conscience; that it doesn’t have to be the same Old.

    Good luck Matt, and us all.

  20. Anna-Lise Kear says

    May 27, 2022 at 3:13 pm

    Mr. Allen Markle; as a personal, recent incident. My 82 year old cousin entered hospital (not in Muskoka, but in Ontario) on May 16th, having not eaten or consumed liquids for @ 24 hours. Though ordered an IV for fluid replacement, this did not happen for another 48 hours, and the reason given was “not enough nursing staff” to complete the order. Now I only have the account of my cousin’s wife on this, but it makes me wonder about the nursing staff shortage.

  21. Ray Love says

    May 28, 2022 at 10:50 am

    We are fortunate in a democratic country to still have the ability to make up our own minds as to the person, party and platform we vote for. I would sincerely hope that those reading the highly biased comments of Mr. Mackenzie would be able to see through the obvious tactics designed to influence voters in our riding. I believe in the early part of this century the term yellow journalism applied to such comments.
    I would hope that Green supporters of which I am one would not stoop so low.

  22. Wanda Roberts says

    May 28, 2022 at 1:33 pm

    I am tired of being held hostage to political party promises just to get votes. It has to stop. With our growing population and aging health care facilities, we unequivocally need new hospitals. Strategic Planning started in 2012 and will take 15 to 20 years to complete. In the end, we will get our new hospitals no matter who is in power. However, any organization, firm or business cannot exist or run without employees.

    Today on the MAHC website, there is a need for 25 Registered Nurses and 4 Registered Practical Nurses. That is external postings. No doubt, there are more postings internally that the public is not privy to.
    The Conservative solution is to throw money up front in the form of sign-up bonuses ($5,000 ) to recruit nurses but discourage the retainment of nurses in the form of Bill 124.

    Bill 124 limits wage increases for nurses to 1% per year x 3 years starting March 2022. The Consumer Price Index is running at 6.8%. Nurses are feeling undervalued, disrespected and unfairly compensated. Mr. Ford did this to our nurses. Shame, shame, shame on him.

    Nurses care for us when we need them. Let’s start showing that we care for nurses.. The Green Party Platform states it will repeal Bill 124 to ensure nurses get fair compensation. This retired Registered Nurse is voting Green. #RESTORE DIGNITY TO ALL NURSES.

  23. Ray Love says

    May 28, 2022 at 2:22 pm

    Regardless of the fact that the Green Party will not form the next provincial government meaningful change has to start somewhere. Those of us in Muskoka have the opportunity to be a part of a growing movement towards a sustainable future. It is possible to create jobs and improve living standards as well as protecting the environment. The two issues are not an either/or situation. Best of luck Matt and your team.

  24. Lorraine Mather says

    May 29, 2022 at 1:12 am

    I have not decided whom I am voting for sure but after getting two phone calls from cocks at 1 a.m. Friday morning complaining about Ford I just May decide to vote that way, but I can say for sure I will never vote for the Ontario party and Andrew John Cocks

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