Thompson completes the drive for five with fifth provincial election win

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Lisa Thompson secured re-election as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Huron-Bruce in the provincial contest held on Thursday, Feb. 27. The victory was called shortly after the polls closed at 9 p.m. 

 

Thompson celebrated the win at an event held at the newly-renamed Maitland Links Golf Club, formerly the Wingham Golf and Curling Club, attended by nearly the full slate of Huron County’s lower-tier municipal leaders, as well as Warden Jamie Heffer. 
According to Election Ontario’s unofficial results, Thompson, representing the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party of Ontario, garnered 24,461 votes, or 50.01 per cent of the vote, securing her fifth consecutive win in the riding. Her nearest competitor, Ian Burbidge of the Ontario Liberal Party, received 13,703 votes (28.02 per cent), followed by Nick McGregor of the Ontario NDP with 5,749 votes (11.75 per cent). Matthew Van Ankum of the Green Party earned 2,727 votes (5.58 per cent), Zack Weiler of the New Blue Party received 2,065 votes (4.22 per cent), and Bruce Eisen of the Alliance Party captured 206 votes (0.42 per cent).

 

Thompson, who has represented Huron-Bruce since 2011, expressed gratitude for the continued support of the community. “It means I have a chance to keep working on behalf of Huron-Bruce,” she said. “I’ve worked incredibly hard since 2018, bringing in over $600 million worth of investments, and I can tell you with the municipal leadership that I have, there are more projects to work on collectively. I can’t wait to get back to work with everyone who makes a difference on behalf of the people of Huron-Bruce.”

 

During the media scrum following her victory, Thompson reflected on the priority issues that resonated with voters throughout the campaign, including the protection of Ontario and the economy. “When I was knocking on doors, meeting with people, attending annual general meetings, the top priority was protecting Ontario,” she said. “In the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen two premiers retire [Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey], and that’s proof that Doug Ford takes his job seriously. We need a strong, stable government to go up against the threats we face.”
Thompson also emphasized the support she received from all corners of the riding. “From a Grade 7 student who volunteered yesterday to a gentleman in a long-term care facility who told me to ‘give ‘em hell,’ people want to see someone fighting for them here at home, and that’s my number-one priority.”

 

The re-elected MPP expressed her readiness to get back to work immediately. “We’ve got a job to do,” she said. “That’s why we chose to go early, and I’m so happy we did. At the end of the day, we have our rural economies to protect, our employers to protect, and our communities to protect as well.”

 

Thompson also acknowledged the historic significance of the victory, noting that a majority government has not been elected three times in a row since Leslie Frost’s government from 1949 to 1961. “I thank the people of Huron-Bruce for having faith in me to continue representing them to the best of my ability,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of a team standing with Premier Ford to ensure Ontario remains strong.”

 

Thompson took a moment to address those who did not vote for the PCs, reassuring them of her commitment to represent everyone in the riding. “I work incredibly hard for all constituents,” she said. “I will continue to bring it home for Huron-Bruce.”
In a speech to supporters, Thompson reflected on her journey in politics, particularly her first campaign in 2011. “It’s an honour to stand before you tonight,” she said. “A fifth time is something I never dreamed of in 2011. And it’s because of each and every one of you. Whether you’re a direct volunteer, a family member, or a leader in your local municipality, we have so much to be proud of in this riding, and there’s so much more we can do.”

 

The MPP expressed her determination to continue advocating for the riding, setting her sights on increasing investments even further. “I’m challenging myself to take that number [over $600 million] up to a billion,” Thompson said. “There are amazing things in the hopper right now, and I can’t wait to work with everyone to achieve them.”

 

Thompson concluded by emphasizing the importance of protecting Ontario’s resources, citing the growing demand for Ontario’s agricultural products, including soft wheat, as well as the need for water conservation in light of global challenges. “We have so much to stand tall for, and so much to be proud of,” she said. “We’ll continue to work together to ensure Ontario’s future is strong, both for those of us here tonight and for the next generation.”

 

In an interview with The Citizen, Heffer commended Thompson on her re-election. “First of all, I just want to congratulate Lisa on her fifth win at Queen’s Park,” Heffer said. “She’s always put Huron-Bruce first, and we’re looking forward to working with her and knowing that she’s advocating for us at every step of the way.”