Despite recent uncertainty, the newly-minted riding of Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte made a definitive choice in PC candidate Doug Downey on Thursday night.
Downey won the riding with 20,445 votes in his favour. NDP candidate Dan Janssen came in second with 12,891 votes, Liberal Jeff Kerk with 6,210 and Green candidate Keenan Aylwin trailing behind with 5,354 votes.
At Dan Janssen’s campaign party at The Local Gastropub in Barrie, supporters sat regally while the results came in. When it was clear Janssen wasn’t the winner, the room started to clear out.
“I feel great,” said Janssen. “It was slow getting things off the ground, but I feel we really grew an NDP presence here.”
“We knew it would be tough riding,” he said.
At Keenan Aylwin’s party at his campaign headquarters on Bayfield Street in Barrie, there was an electricity in the air that erupted when it was announced Mike Schreiner won his riding in Guelph. This was a historic win as it will be the first time the Green Party has held a seat in Ontario.
“All the hard work Mike Schreiner has done for the last two terms has come to fruition now,” said Bonnie North, Green Party candidate in Barrie-Innisfil, who was also in attendance.
“Keenan has a heart filled with passion and love. He has been an inspiration to all of us.” said North.
When Aylwin got up to speak after the results were announced, his voice filled with emotion and he struggled to hold back tears.
“This campaign was about sending a message,” he said. “We inspired our community and changed our community... and this is only the beginning.”
Jeff Kerk held his rally at Boston Pizza on Cundles Road in Barrie, but took time out before attending his party to stop at Janssen and Aylwin’s parties to congratulate them on well-run campaigns.
“I’m disappointed,” said Kerk. “But my campaign team did a great job.”
“The people of the riding have spoken. We’re not done yet. You’ll see my name again,” said Kerk.
Aylwin’s campaign manager Linda Palmeteer indicated that Kerk’s team and Aylwin’s team would be working together on Friday to clean up campaign signs across the riding.
Final tally
20,445: Doug Downey (Progressive Conservatives)
12,891: Dan Janssen (New Democrats)
6,210: Jeff Kerk (Liberals)
5,354: Keenan Aylwin (Green)
280: Mark Mitchell (Libertarian)
174: Darren Roskam (None of the Above)
172: Michael Tuck (independent)
163: Ram Faerber (independent)
