The Saugeen Times

Thompson takes Huron-Bruce
for Conservatives
By Liz Dadson

Provincial Election 2011/Video

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Showing their support for PC candidate and new Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, are Doris Inglis (L), Shirley Godfrey, Ashlin Mann, Shelby Ross and Angela Mann

New Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson thanks her supporters

Lisa Thompson painted Huron-Bruce Tory blue, upsetting incumbent Liberal agriculture minister Carol Mitchell, in the provincial election last night (Oct. 6).

Surrounded by a huge crowd of supporters at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club, Thompson watched as the results came in, showing a lot of Liberal support in the Toronto ridings.

However, the first advance poll for Huron-Bruce put Thompson ahead at 415 votes, compared to Mitchell with 261 votes, and Grant Robertson of the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 119 votes.

And that's pretty much how it continued through the night, as the Conservatives remained ahead until Thompson was declared the winner with a 3,000-vote lead over Mitchell, and Robertson in third.

Lisa Thompson thanks the crowd of supporters at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club

"It feels so gratifying," said Thompson. "It shows that people want change, and that's what we were hearing when we were out knocking on doors. It also shows renewed support for the Huron-Bruce PC Riding Association, and I'm honoured to be a part of that."

She said there are a lot of hard issues to address, such as the redevelopment of the Kincardine hospital to ensure that it remains in the works for 2015.

"First things first, we have to meet with the major stakeholders, including local councils, and develop a rapport with them.

"I pledge to be the best advocate for rural Ontario residents. Decisions made in Toronto do not work in rural Ontario."

Thompson's co-campaign managers Ken Robertson and Doris Inglis congratulated her on the win.

"This is a monumental moment," said Robertson. "Let's welcome our new MPP for Huron-Bruce: Lisa Thompson." This was met with thunderous applause.

"This is such an honour," said Thompson. "Huron-Bruce wants change and we are going to give our constituents the best change of all."

She thanked the 300 volunteers who helped with the campaign, as well as her family and friends for all their support.

"I share this win with all of you," she said. "But most important of all, we are taking a rural voice to Queen's Park and we're going to address those hard issues - wind development, the closure of the Walkerton Jail, and high energy prices."

According to the Elections Ontario website, with all 234 polls reporting, Thompson (PC) had 19,126 votes (42.7% of the vote); Mitchell (Liberal) had 14,663 votes (32.7%); Robertson (NDP) had 9,374 votes (20.9%); Patrick Main (Green Party) had 722 votes (1.7%); Christine Schnurr (Family Coalition Party) had 655 votes (1.5%); and Dennis Valenta (Independent) had 199 votes (0.4%).