Ontario election-night political fights to watch
Bill Doskoch, ctvtoronto.ca
Date: Thursday Oct. 6, 2011 5:41 PM ET
The buses are now parked, the leaders have had their voting-day photo opportunities and we all await the judgment of the Ontario electorate.
To form a majority government, one party will have to elect 54 members to Ontario’s 107-seat provincial parliament. Otherwise, the first minority parliament in the province since 1985 will result.
Here is where some of the closest and most interesting fights can be expected, based on polling, history and where the leaders have spent the most time since the election writ was dropped on Sept. 7.
Parkdale-High Park – On Sept. 29,Longchamp Outlet NDP Leader Andrea Horwath went mainstreeting with MPP Cheri DiNovo on Roncesvalles Ave.
Four days earlier, a poll conducted for the Toronto Star indicated that DiNovo could be trailing in her riding.
Federally, Peggy Nash went back to Ottawa in the May 2 election as the area’s NDP MP, but three years earlier, voters dumped her for Liberal Gerard Kennedy.
Trinity-Spadina – The leaders have all made appearances here, but that’s partly because so many large venues and media outlets are located in the downtown riding.
Veteran NDP MP Rosario Marchese has a high-profile Liberal opponent in former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson, so it could be a close battle.
Federally, Olivia Chow, widow of the late NDP leader Jack Layton, has represented Trinity-Spadina since 2006. She has been helping in part by lending her voice to automated telephone calls on Marchese’s behalf.
York-South Weston – NDP candidate Paul Ferriera and Liberal Laura Albanese have each won an election and lost — by relatively small margins. This will be round three.
Horwath held her first rally of the campaign in the riding on Sept. 7. The NDP defeated federal Liberal MP Allan Tonks here in the May 2 election.
York Centre – This could be one of the Tories’ best shot at a Toronto seat. Veteran Liberal MPP Monte Kwinter could be in a tough battle with the PC’s Michael Mostyn.
There is a large Jewish community in the riding, and Mostyn is former national director of public affairs for B’nai Brith Canada.
The Tories easily defeated federal Liberal MP and hockey legend Ken Dryden in the spring election.
Davenport – With no incumbent, the NDP hope they can pick up the seat, following on the federal win of MP Andrew Cash in the spring. Polls suggest this riding is the NDP’s for the taking. Horwath held an announcement in the riding.
Eglinton-Lawrence – This might be worth watching as former mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi, once the fundraising chief for the federal Liberals, is running for the PCs against veteran Liberal MPP Mike Colle. Hudak has campaigned in the riding.
Beaches-East York – One poll suggested a tight Liberal-NDP fight here. The incumbent is former city councillor Michael Prue, an NDP MPP.
Federally, the NDP knocked off Liberal incumbent Maria Minna this spring.
Pickering-Scarborough East – With no incumbent, this should be a scrap. Both Hudak and McGuinty have made stops here.
Federally, the Conservatives narrowly defeated Liberal incumbent Dan McTeague in the spring.
Thornhill – This could be a very close fight as the riding tends to change hands easily. The incumbent is Tory MPP Peter Shurman.
Federally, Conservative cabinet minister Peter Kent easily won here in the spring.
Hudak made an appearance in the riding.
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