With an empty seat in the long-time Conservative stronghold of Parry Sound-Muskoka, there's a new slate of eager candidates ready to fill it.
All four major parties are invested in the riding, after Independent MP Tony Clement announced his retirement following a sexting scandal, leaving no incumbent.
Conservative candidate Scott Aitchison is no stranger to politics. The Huntsville mayor was first elected to Huntsville town council at the age of 21.
"Being involved in your community and helping to shape the future of your community is, it's a really fun thing to be a part of," he says.
Aitchison's main priority is affordable housing.
Conservative candidate Scott Aitchison
Tom Young is the NDP candidate focusing on poverty reduction and affordable housing. The public works superintendent has lived in Muskoka his entire life and continues to work while campaigning.
"I know what it's like to live a hard life. I don't need people to tell me how it is," he declares.
NDP candidate Tom Young
In the spring, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau visited Muskoka for his party's candidate, Trisha Cowie's, nomination.
The First Nations lawyer and small business owner says her local priorities are climate change, affordable housing, broadband internet, and reconciliation.
"I'm a collaborator. So many people I talk to are disenchanted with politics because politicians cannot put aside their partisan differences," she says.
Liberal candidate Trisha Cowie
Green Party candidate and trained scientist, Gord Miller, is also pushing hard for the seat. Party leader Elizabeth May asked Miller to run in the riding that he now calls home. He was Ontario's Environmental Commissioner for 15 years. "I understand how it works. I understand the mechanisms of Parliament. I understand the committees, the rules. I understand how to read the law."
Gord Miller is pictured in Queen's Park in 2011.
Independent Daniel Predie Jr. is also running in this riding.
With Tony Clement confirming in April that he's quitting federal politcs, this is the first time in 13 years the riding has no incumbent, making it an interesting race to watch.
