The Mayor of Warwick Township has been named as the provincial candidate in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex for the New Democratic Party (NDP).
Todd Case was announced as the nominee during a meeting held at the Portuguese-Canadian Club in Strathoy on Wednesday.
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who spoke at the nomination, says Case is focused on the priorities of families, and what comes next for jobs and local businesses in the rural south-west.
“We know we can make life even better for families in small and rural towns,” Horwath said in a press release.
“As the Mayor of Warwick, Todd has a record of fighting for what the people in his community need – whether that’s good local schools, investment in local small businesses, lower hydro bills or health care that families can count on. He and I believe that families in the south-west need more services, not less. And that it’s time to give families a more affordable life – not more costs.”
Case said people in his region believe it’s time for a change in government – and that it’s time to think about which premier comes next.
“Families in our community deserve a premier that will focus on the issues that really matter to them – like overcrowding and lack of resources in small and rural hospitals; the sky-high hydro bills that are making life tougher on families; and keeping our schools open,” Case said in a press release.
“We can do so much better when it comes to the services we all count on, like health care and education – those are things that should be top priorities for the government, but that we’ve been let down on time and time again.”
Case added: “I’ll fight alongside Andrea Horwath to bring Hydro One back into public hands so that Ontarians have control over our hydro bills again. I’ll also work hard to see her plan to create a prescription drug program that covers everyone – regardless of age or income – implemented, because I agree with her completely when she says that no one should have to empty their wallet to get the medicine they need. These are the kinds of changes that will help our region move forward.”
Horwath says she understands why people feel disappointed by Kathleen Wynne, and why it’s becoming clear to them that Patrick Brown isn’t the answer.
“This election isn’t just about change – it’s about choosing what comes next for Ontario,” Horwath said.
“The Conservative Brown is hiding his plans, probably because everyday families won’t like them: he’ll cut and he’ll privatize. He stood with Mike Harris as that government cut 6,000 nurses, closed 28 hospitals and shut down over 7,000 hospital beds. He stood next to Tim Hudak as he vowed to cut 100,000 good Ontario jobs.”
Horwath added: “Families don’t need more cutting – we need a government to fix the basics. We need a government that understands how much our schools and our hospitals mean in our communities. It’s time for a premier focused on what families need.”
Case replaces Joe Hill, who ran for the NDP in the last provincial election back in 2014.
Hill finished second behind incumbent Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton, gathering 12,160 votes or 26.52%. McNaughton gathered 20,710 votes or 45.17% of the vote. McNaughton is set to run once again.
The Liberals have yet to name a candidate in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
