Candidates make last push for election

Candidates make last push for election

Georgina

MP hopefuls make plans for Tuesday night
By: John Slykhuis

York-Simcoe candidates are making their final campaign push in Georgina as voters get set to march to the polls Tuesday.

Three of the candidates are Georgina residents: MP Peter Van Loan, who lives on a farm south of Sutton, NDP Sylvia Gerl, who lives in the rural area north of Keswick and Green John Dewar who lives in a Keswick subdivision.

Liberal Judith Moses lives in Toronto, but said she will move to the riding if she wins.

Christian Heritage candidate Vicki Gunn and Progressive Canadian Paul Pisani live in East Gwillimbury.

On election night two of the candidates will be in Bradford, Ms Moses at her campaign headquarters on Holland Avenue, while Green candidate John Dewar will watch the results at Shoeless Joe’s in Bradford.
Mr. Van Loan’s supporters will meet at Shoeless Joe’s in East Gwillimbury.

Ms Gerl will be in Georgina, likely watching the vote count at home with supporters.

All five candidates made an appearance at the Leacock Theatre last week for the only Georgina meeting, moderated by Gerry Brouwer and sponsored by the Georgina Chamber of Commerce attended by about 100 persons.

As expected, most questions were aimed at Mr. Van Loan, the outspoken government House Leader, the majority of them coming from Progressive Canadian supporters from both inside and outside the riding.

Questions included environmental concerns for Lake Simcoe, the war in Afghanistan, funding for the arts and the “illegality” of calling the election before the mandated new date, to which Mr. Van Loan replied it is still the prerogative of the Governor General to set the election date at her discretion.

York-Simcoe is a large riding, including the towns of Georgina, Bradford West Gwillimbury, East Gwillimbury and Innisfil and a small section of north King Township.

In 2006, Mr. Van Loan won with 25,685 votes compared to 16,456 for Liberal Kate Wilson.
Ms Gerl polled 7,139 votes and Mr. Dewar 3,719.

Mrs. Gunn finished a distant last with 595 votes.

For campaign details, voter information and last minute developments, go to yorkregion.com

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