Polling stations have closed in three Ontario provincial byelections held on Thursday, with indications that one of the races will be closely contested. Candidates report that key provincial issues like healthcare, education, and cost of living were prominent during their campaigns, alongside concerns about the ongoing trade dispute with the United States.
The Progressive Conservatives led by Premier Doug Ford aim to retain two seats, while the New Democrats are striving to keep the third. In Hamilton-Stoney Creek, a tight race is anticipated following the retirement of Conservative Neil Lumsden in August.
The competition in Scarborough Southwest is expected to be fierce between the New Democrats and the Liberals, while the Progressive Conservatives are projected to maintain their hold on York-Simcoe after the departure of Caroline Mulroney.
Voting commenced at 9 a.m. and concluded at 9 p.m. Scarborough Southwest became vacant after Doly Begum, an NDP MPP, resigned to contest for the federal Liberals in the same riding, a seat she secured in a federal byelection in April.
The NDP’s Fatima Shaban, a community advocate, is up against Liberal candidate Ahsanul Hafiz, a businessman with ownership of 30 Dominos pizza outlets, and PC candidate Noor Tarun. Hafiz emerged victorious in the nomination race, defeating former MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who had intentions to vie for the party’s leadership.
In York-Simcoe, the departure of Caroline Mulroney, a Progressive Conservative MPP and former Treasury Board president, paved the way for a byelection. PC candidate Susan Lahey, an East Gwillimbury town councillor, will face off against Liberal Naomi Davison and the NDP’s Bobby Nikmard.
Hamilton East-Stoney Creek saw a vacancy after the retirement of Neil Lumsden, a Progressive Conservative MPP and Ontario’s former minister of sport, in early August. Jeff Beattie, a seasoned city councillor, is leading the Conservative campaign in the riding, facing strong competition from the NDP’s Monique Taylor and Liberal Heino Doessing.