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September 21, 2021 durhamcitizen.ca 3

What the federal election results

mean for Ford and Ontario politics

The failure of Erin O'Toole's The opposition parties see the
Conservative Party to make its results as evidence that Ford was In last week’s federal election, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals
hoped-for breakthrough in unable to help O'Toole in Ontario won 78 of 121 Ontario seats, compared to 37 for
Ontario in the federal election is by b e c a u s e h e i s p e r s o n a l l y Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives, five for Jagmeet Singh’s
no means any guarantee that voters unpopular. The Ontario PCs reject New Democrats, and one for the Green Party.
will reject Premier Doug Ford and that notion, saying Ford's polling That compares to 76 of 124 provincial seats for
his Progressive Conservatives in numbers have actually improved Doug Ford’s Tories in the June 2018 election.
the provincial election that's just over the summer and that he stayed Andrea Horwath’s New Democrats won 40 while
eight months away. out of the federal campaign to the Liberals, now led by Steven Del Duca, took
The provincial parties are concentrate on the job of seven, and Mike Schreiner’s Greens won one.
analyzing the results of the federal governing the province.
vote and trying to figure out the If history is the key indication, it's government happens to be in voters view the federal and was hiding, it doesn't mean he was
implications for Ontario politics. Steven Del Duca and the Ontario power a majority just because of provincial parties differently and not at work. Don't be surprised if
CBC News granted anonymity for Liberals who should be the least the pandemic. ventures that Horwath is well t h e p re m i e r h o l d s a n e w s
this story to senior officials from excited about last night's result. One could also see the results in the positioned to take a run at Ford conference on Wednesday, as
the PCs, the Ontario NDP and In the past 57 years, there has only ring of seats around Toronto, next June. Ontario's proof of vaccination
provincial Liberals so they could been one occasion where an where Ontario elections are won The NDP is going into the race with program kicks in.
speak freely about strategy. Ontario party formed government and lost, as bad news for the PCs. more incumbents to build on, a One issue that requires quick
While top strategists from all the in the next election after a win by The Liberals took nearly 47 per cent stronger pool of candidates, and attention from Ford now that
main provincial parties insist it their federal political counterparts. of the popular vote in those ridings the accomplishment of having Justin Trudeau has been re-elected
wo u l d b e u n w i s e t o d r a w The sole exception was 2003, when and O'Toole's party failed to gain persuaded nearly 2 million is child care. Ontario is one of only
straightforward conclusions about Dalton McGuinty's Liberals won ground there even though he Ontarians to vote for them last two provinces (along with Alberta)
the Ontario vote from the federal the provincial election that represents the 905 riding of time, the official says. that have not yet signed on to the
vote, they do say there are lessons followed Jean Chretien's federal Durham. The senior New Democrat also federal Liberals' child-care
to be learned. Liberal victory in 2000. Yet a senior PC strategist I spoke claims the PCs are "hoping that the program.
One thing is clear for all the parties: Despite that long-running Ontario with Tuesday claims not to be pandemic will be far enough in the Provincial government officials say
a key element in their path to political paradox, provincial worried at all. rearview mirror that people will they believe a deal can be reached
victory next June will be wooing a Liberals argue the federal results The strategist says O'Toole's forget about how badly Ford with the federal government on
significant chunk of those people are a good sign for their party. Conservatives were hurt in the 905 screwed things up." child care that will be good for
who voted Liberal on Monday. They say it shows the strength of by his positions on COVID-19 The provincial NDP will be Ontario.
Just as none of the federal parties the Liberal brand in the province vaccinations. The strategist argues engaged in a pitched battle with Ford issued a statement Tuesday
got what they really wanted out of and they say a team of 70-plus that Ford's recent COVID-19 the Liberals to convince anti-Ford that congratulated Trudeau and
election night, none of the Ontario Liberal MPs means on-the-ground policies — bringing in a proof-of- voters that their leader has the aimed to strike a conciliatory tone.
parties should be dancing in the organizational support for the vaccination program, requiring all skills to steer Ontario through the "For many, this has been an
streets over the results. provincial campaign in many his candidates to get vaccinated, post-pandemic future, trying to extremely difficult and divisive
Across Ontario, the Liberals won target ridings. and booting the one MPP who pitch themselves as the competent election and I would like to take
78 seats, the Conservatives in 37, T h e N e w D e m o c r a t s a n d refused — have greater appeal to and responsible alternative. this opportunity to urge unity,"
the NDP in 5 and the Greens in 1. Progressive Conservatives see that those voters. Ford all but disappeared from Ford said.
The popular vote in Ontario broke as wishful thinking on the part of As for Andrea Horwath and her public view for the past eight On election day next June 2,
down this way: the Liberals. Ontario NDP, seeing their federal weeks. He has held just one news Ontario parties will need 63 seats
• Liberals 38.9% For Ford's incumbent PCs, the counterparts win just five seats in conference since the end of July. to win a majority. In 2018, the PCs
• Conservatives 35.1% result is another piece of evidence t h e p r o v i n c e h a s t o b e Although the opposition parties won 76 seats, but through a mix of
• NDP 17.8% (along with last month's Nova demoralizing. p o u n c e d o n t h a t a n d t h e ejecting people from caucus and a
• People's Party 5.6% Scotia election) that voters are not Despite that, a senior provincial prorogation of the Legislature defection, their current tally in the
• Green Party 2.2% simply going to hand whatever New Democrat insists Ontario until Oct. 4 as evidence that Ford Legislature is 70. - Mike Crawley

Pickering wants a new hospital and here's why

The City of Pickering has hired He said this hospital could be the
consultants to put the city’s best starting-off point for more
foot forward in the bid to host Pickering is proposing a hospital on land development in the area, which is
Durham’s next hospital. located near Salem Road and Highway 407. considered ‘whitebelt lands'- land
At a special council meeting on “It is somewhat centrally located but at between the Greenbelt and
Aug. 30, councillors unanimously the same time it’s adjacent to the developed areas.
approved proposals submitted by Seaton development, which is “This proposal should be rejected
consultants HOK and Deloitte the largest development in outright today,” Pothen said.
LLP. For a cost of $316,880, the Durham Region with 70,000 The competition:
fi r m s w i l l r e s p o n d t o t h e residents moving in and we’re Oshawa
anticipated request for proposals well underway with that," Oshawa is proposing the hospital
for a new hospital by Lakeridge explained Mayor Dave Ryan. be located on the northerly portion
Health. The North East Pickering of Oshawa's Major Urban Area (the
Landowners Group Inc. (NEPLG) exact location hasn’t been revealed
will fund 50 per cent of it. Mayor Dave Ryan next to a map of yet).
What's the proposal? Seaton Development, Pickering Oshawa argues it is centrally
Pickering is proposing a hospital l o c a t e d f o r a l l D u r h a m
on land located near Salem Road municipalities and it’s located near
and Highway 407. Hwy. 407.
“It is somewhat centrally located to the region as a whole and The location is also near a strong development on the Duffins Creek Whitby
but at the same time it’s adjacent to specifically for Pickering." labour force in Pickering and wetlands complex, which was Whitby has slated a 160-acre site in
the Seaton development, which is Pickering’s pitch: beyond. approved by the province but later the southeast quadrant, below
the largest development in “The hospital is needed for the What does the public think? reversed after public outcry. Hwy. 407, next to Highway 412,
Durham Region with 70,000 region as a whole,” Ryan said. Residents who spoke at the council He said "council either has very south of Winchester Road and
residents moving in and we’re well “Wherever it goes we’re very meeting see the benefit of a limited short-term memory or is next to Lakeridge Road.
underway with that," explained pleased for that initiative, but we hospital, but don't agree with the choosing to have what I would refer Whitby argues the proposed site is
Mayor Dave Ryan. think Pickering is the best spot for proposed location. to as a 'selective memory.'" located in the heart of Durham and
The 70-acre site is being donated it for a number of reasons. We are “The Salem Road site is not only on Phil Pothen, a land use planning close to major highways.
by the NEPLG Inc. the fastest growing city in Durham the Carruthers Creek headwaters and environmental lawyer with What’s next?
Ryan said the landowners see it as a Region and the only Lakeshore but is in a Prime Agricultural Area Environmental Defence, said An independent expert panel will
contribution to the community municipality that currently does according to the Durham Region d e v e l o p i n g o n t h i s recommend the location for the
they’re building. not have a major health care asset. Official Plan,” resident Mike Borie “catastrophically poor location" for hospital to the Lakeridge Health
“We have the unanimous support “We think we’re best situated to told council. a hospital would increase loss of board to make a final decision.
of Pickering council for this support the underserved residents He compared the proposal to prime agricultural lands, worsen The site selection process should
initiative," he said. "Council sees and accommodate the future council’s recent request for a flooding and erosion and threaten be completed by the end of 2021.
this as something that’s beneficial growth.” ministerial zoning order to allow wildlife.