With chants of “four more years,” supporters whooped and hollered as Liberal Party of Ontario leader Kathleen Wynne arrived at a north-end Barrie plaza, Thursday evening, to officially open Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte candidate Jeff Kerk’s campaign office.
Wynne told reporters that voters have to ask a lot of questions leading up to the June 7 provincial election.
“I would ask people to be very clear about asking their candidates what they stand for and how they’re going to do the things their party says they’re going to do,” she said. “You know, really ask for the detail about how it’s practically possible, because that’s going to reveal a lot about the different platforms.”
Among the sea of red, supporters held signs with slogans such as ‘child care’, ‘Free Preschool’, ‘Women for Wynne’ and ‘Seniors Care’.
The Barrie area has long been a Tory stronghold, but Ann Hoggarth won the riding in the last provincial election.
This time around, the city will be split into two, with Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte to the north and Barrie-Innisifl to the south.
Hoggarth represented the Barrie riding during the last term, before the city was split, while Kerk is a first-time candidate.
The premier said she hopes to keep turning area ridings red.
“People are out knocking on doors and they’re getting a good reception,” Wynne said.
She said she’ll be taking her message all over the province, particularly surrounding health-care.
“We’re connecting with people and making sure people know that we’re bringing forward a plan, a doable, practical plan, to put more care into our communities,” Wynne said. “That’s what it’s going to come down to.”
Kerk, who is the shared director of diagnostic services at Georgian Bay General Hospital and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Memorial, has opened his campaign office at 477 Grove St. E., Unit 5A.
