Here’s what’s on the brain of Bay of Quinte byelection candidates

September 15, 2024 Canuck

Seven candidates are vying for the MPP seat recently left vacant in Bay of Quinte, their concerns reflecting a host of issues including health care, home affordability and infrastructure.

The byelection was set for Sept. 19 after the Progressive Conservative’s Todd Smith resigned from the position last month to take a job in the private sector.

Amanda Robertson, the candidate for the NDP, is on leave from her role as vice-chair of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and is promising to make education a priority if elected.

“It’s completely unacceptable for people living in [here] in 2024 to be struggling to get their kids to school every day and to have them well supported and safe in the schools,” she said in a recent news conference.

NDP candidate Amanda Robertson cited education and health care as priorities. ( Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC)

Robertson, whose husband is a local doctor, is also campaigning to improve health care.

She said there are over 20,000 people without access to primary care in the riding, the wait list continues to grow and the region is losing family doctors to retirement and burnout.

Lori Borthwick, the Green Party of Ontario candidate, said she hopes her environmental advocacy and 30-year career as a respiratory therapist will resonate with voters.

A white woman smiles. — Lori Borthwick is the Green Party candidate and cited concerns with provincial legislation she says has affected wetlands. (Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC)

Borthwick told CBC’s Ontario Morning she has long been an advocate for protecting the region’s wetlands and pushing back against provincial legislation she believes harms the environment.

“I’ve run a number of events and protests against some of the Ford Conservative bills, like Bill 23, that have affected 100 of our 101 provincially significant wetlands,” Borthwick said.

Listen to the candidates speak in more detail to CBC’s Ontario Morning here

Sean Kelly, the Liberal candidate in the byelection, served as a Belleville city councillor and as a morning radio host.

Kelly has criticized the provincial government’s handling of housing issues in the region and promises to advocate for more affordable housing.

A red campaign sign with a photo of Sean Kelly. — Liberal candidate Sean Kelly says housing affordability is front of mind for him. (Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC)

“People can’t [afford] a three-bedroom home, and then they have to pay all the heat and hydro. They just can’t afford it,” he said.

Kelly said he’s also concerned about the local opioid crisis and said he hopes to secure provincial support to combat the issue. He noted the opioid mortality rate in Hastings County is 67 per cent higher than in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, and North Bay.

Tyler Allsopp, the Progressive Conservative candidate looking to reclaim the seat for the party, has not accepted multiple requests for an interview.

Since 2021, Allsopp has been serving on Belleville’s city council and is chair of the Belleville Police Services Board.

Tyler Allsopp and Sylvia Jones — Conservative candidate Tyler Allsopp is seen here campaiging with MPP and Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones (Sylvia Jones/X)

In a news release, the party cited widening Highway 401 and building a new interchange as priorities for Allsopp.

“He’s ready to fight the costly Liberal carbon tax and will help us get it done for Bay of Quinte by widening Highway 401 and building a new interchange to help get people where they need to be faster,” read Ford’s statement.

Margaret Schuler is the New Blue candidate, Mark Snow is the Libertarian Party candidate and John Turmel is running as an Independent.

Eligible voters can cast in-person ballots at the returning offices located at 360 Pinnacle St. and 85 Dundas St. E., but only until 6 p.m. Sept. 18.

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