Local New Democrats look to hold seats amid a sea of Tory blue
With the pandemic still fresh in peoples’ minds, and inflation at levels most have never seen, are London, Ont. voters even ready to switch their brains to election mode?
“Not at the moment, no,” said voter Nadia Simoes, who was shopping at a south London plaza Wednesday. “It’s hard to choose between some people that you don’t always agree with.”
Voter Steve Bennett said there’s much to fix for whoever forms the next government.
“The price of everything’s going up, and obviously COVID’s still an issue and we want to get back to whatever normal is for people, and get prices back down so everyone can afford to live their lives a little less stressed,” he said.
Day one of the provincial election campaign saw London candidates out on the hustings, including the three incumbent NDP hopefuls.Londoner and voter Steve Bennett. (Bryan Bicknell / CTV News)There was door-knocking, mainstreeting and mapping out election strategies for the orange trio consisting of Terence Kernaghan, Teresa Armstrong and Peggy Sattler.
These three represented a small orange cluster in a sea of Tory blue across southwestern Ontario in the 2018 provincial election, with only Elgin-Middlesex-London going to the PC’s. That riding was held by former PC MPP Jeff Yurek, who exited politics earlier this year.
The 2018 election may have been all about punishing the previous Liberal government, according to one political scientist — and that’s why many London voters gravitated towards the NDP.
But with the punishment already meted out, can the NDP do it once again?
Londoner and voter Nadia Simoes. (Bryan Bicknell / CTV News)Jacquetta Newman of Kings University College said that with the Liberals working their way back up in the polls, the return of the orange wave in London is no guarantee.
“There’s not the same sort of voter requirement for punishing the Liberals this time, so we’re seeing them rise again,” said Newman.
Newman added the one major factor local New Democrats do have on their side is incumbency.
“If the NDP and the Liberals split the vote we end up with the Conservatives coming up the middle. But, that incumbency effect is really strong,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.