Two Ontario cabinet ministers cruised to easy wins Thursday night in northeastern Ontario.
While in Mushkegowuk-James Bay, the NDP held on to the riding by a four-vote margin.
Nipissing re-elects Vic Fedeli
Nipissing Progressive Conservative incumbent Vic Fedeli comfortably won his fifth term as MPP for the riding.
Fedeli finished with more than 55 per cent of the votes, easily beating the second-place candidate, Loren Mick of the New Democrats with 100 per cent of the polls reporting.
First elected in 2011, Fedeli was Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade in Doug Ford’s previous government.
George Pirie wins second term in Timmins
Also headed back to Queen’s Park is George Pirie, Ford’s Minister of Mines and Timmins MPP.
Pirie had a huge lead over Corey Lepage of the NDP, garnering more than 68.55 per cent of the vote with 100 per cent of the polls reporting.
Ontario voters elected a strong Conservative majority mandate, which means Ford will be premier for another four years.
“Congratulations to Vic Fedeli for his re-election,” Green Party candidate Colton Chaput.
“I look forward to seeing him work with community leaders across party lines to fight for Nipissing!”
Nickel Belt and Sudbury stay orange
Elsewhere, France Gelinas easily retained Nickel Belt for the New Democrats, garnering 48.37 per cent of the vote to beat Tory challenger Randy Hazlett, who had 35.67 per cent. That’s with 100 per cent of the polls reporting.
In Sudbury, NDP incumbent Jamie West held on to his seat with 46.44 per cent of the vote, beating Tory challenger Max Massimiliano (38.35 per cent) with 100 per cent of the votes counted.
Algoma-Manitoulin turns blue
The Progressive Conservatives won in Algoma-Manitoulin, with Bill Rosenburg (41.33 per cent) defeating the NDP’s David Timeriski (21.19 per cent) with all of the votes counted.
PCs keep seat in Sault Ste. Marie
It was a razor-close race in the Sault, where Conservative Chris Scott won a by a margin of 118 votes over the NDP’s Lisa Vezeau-Allen, with 100 per cent of the polls reporting.
Scott vowed to represent all voters in the riding, not just the 13,082 who voted for him.
“My job is to represent everyone in Sault Ste. Marie,” he said. “Not just the people who voted for me.”
“I’m going to show up, I’m going to get to work and keep doing the things I did to get me elected.”
Scott replaces Ross Romano in the riding’s PC seat.
Every vote counts
In Mushkegowuk-James Bay, NDP incumbent Guy Bourgouin had a four-vote lead over Conservative candidate Dave Plourde with 100 per cent of the votes counted. Bourgouin won the seat with 3,606 votes, compared to 3,602 for Plourde.
Close race in Parry Sound-Muskoka
Graydon Smith held on to Parry Sound-Muskoka for the Conservatives, garnering 46.8 per cent of the vote compared to Green Pary challenger Matt Richter (41.7 per cent) with 100 per cent of votes counted.
Vanthof wins fifth term
In Timiskaming-Cochrane, John Vathof held on to the seat for the NDP, winning 44.09 per cent of the vote over Conservative Tory Delaurier, who won 37.77 per cent. That’s with 100 per cent of the votes counted.
