There will be a new MPP in the Newmarket-Aurora riding after Thursday's election – incumbent Progressive Conservative Frank Klees isn't running again.
Klees represented the area for almost 20 years at Queen’s Park.
Jane Twinney is looking to fill Klees’s shoes and keep the riding Tory blue. She says these final days of campaigning are crucial.
“People are still undecided and now they're making their decision,” she says. “Now is time to talk to them and find out what their issues are, let them know about our platform.”
The PCs won the last election by more than 5,000 votes. Liberal candidate Chris Ballard says it’s a close race and is spending every possible moment reaching out to supporters.
“It’s very important to make sure your supporters are at the ballot box on June 12,” he says. “I spend five hours a day knocking on doors and a number of meetings with constituent groups.”
The NDP and Green Party candidates see this as an opportunity for their parties and say every connection with a voter could make a difference.
“People are tired of the conventional two parties and these last few days give me an opportunity to let people know what the NDP is about,” says Angus Duff. “I feel great about this election.”
Green Party candidate Andrew Roblins says, “Letting them know there is an alternative option – a green option – is really what’s important now because this is the time where a lot of people are going to pay attention and decide who they're going to vote for and a lot of people are resonating with the Green Party policy.”
There are two other candidates in the riding – Dorian Baxter with the Canadians’ Choice Party and Bob Yaciuk with the Trillum Party.
With the polls suggesting the election is too close to call, political science professor Michael Johns says these final days of the campaign are crucial for the local candidates to find their supporters and encourage them to vote.
Johns says every vote could count when it comes to the outcome at the ballot box.
