Thompson takes Huron-Bruce riding with landslide victory in provincial election

Progressive Conservative (PC) Lisa Thompson will return to Queen's Park after being re-elected in the Huron-Bruce riding with a landslide victory in Thursday's provincial election.

Thompson was surrounded by her campaign team and party faithful at the Wingham Golf and Country Club, as the election results began coming in shortly after 9 p.m.

By 9:15 p.m., a PC majority had been declared with Doug Ford the new premier of Ontario, and amidst a roaring cheer, Thompson was declared re-elected in Huron-Bruce.

Unofficial results show the PCs with 75 seats, the New Democratic Party (NDP) with 39, the Liberals with seven, and the Green Party with one.

In Huron-Bruce, unofficial results show Thompson with 27,646 votes, NDP's Jan Johnstone with 15,326, Liberals' Don Matheson with 7,356, Green Party's Nicholas Wendler with 1,804, Libertarian Ron Stephens with 391, and Alliance Party's Gerrie Huenemoerder with 271.

“It's a new day for Ontario,” said Thompson's campaign manager Steve Sparling. “We ran a great campaign and we proved that Huron-Bruce Matters! So, let's enjoy and celebrate, and then there's lots of work ahead.”

Thompson thanked her campaign team, her supporters and the many volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

“I have an amazing team behind me,” she said. “Throughout the campaign, I felt comfortable in every community. There was so much support out there. Now, we have to get to work and make life more affordable for Ontarians. This is a new election frontier that we can't take lightly.”

In a brief emotional moment, she remembered the honourary PC association beyond the sunset, including her father, as well as Mary Proctor, Wilfred Haines and Jack Coleman. She also spoke of a faithful PC supporter in Seaforth who knew he wasn't long for this life and was headed for the hospital, but first Alf Ross had to vote.

“That kind of support is why we do what we do,” said Thompson. “Help is on the way for the people of Ontario, and especially Huron Bruce. We're looking forward to a great four years.”



PC Lisa Thompson addresses a crowd of supporters after being re-elected in Huron-Bruce, Thursday night, following the provincial election

Friday, Thompson is attending an event at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Southampton, and Monday, she's back at Queen's Park where there are a lot of things to get done, she said.

Among her priorities, are the Kincardine hospital redevelopment project, and a Family Health Team in Zurich that requires funding to attract doctors.

This is Thompson's third election win, a feat not seen in this riding since Liberal Murray Gaunt won five consecutive elections in the 1960s and 1970s, holding the Huron-Bruce seat for 19 years.

Thompson was first elected in 2011 when she ousted incumbent Liberal Carol Mitchell. She was re-elected in 2014, defeating Liberal Colleen Schenk.