Representatives from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario announced they have joined together to endorse Richter.
“We believe that Matt and the Green Party have the best interests of educators in Ontario,” said Rob Hammond, ETFO Near North President. “Matt is very well-versed not only in education, but also our economy, housing, and healthcare. We think that Greens would be the best representatives of us at Queen’s Park.”
Parker Robinson, OSSTF Near North President, joined the call for change, standing alongside Richter and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner at a campaign announcement in Huntsville on Saturday.
“I’m honoured by the trust placed in me by my fellow educators,” said Richter. “As a teacher and a parent, I’m committed to building a better Ontario for our children and future generations. I look forward to working closely with OSSTF and ETFO as MPP for Parry Sound–Muskoka to improve access to quality education in rural communities and across our province.”
The Retired Teachers of Ontario District 6, Unit 1 East Parry Sound will be hosting an all candidates meeting for Almaguin and East Parry Sound at the South River Arena on February 19th. We will be attending the meeting, so watch for that story.
Richter also received an endorsement from renowned broadcaster and environmental activist David Suzuki.
“Only the Green Party is founded on principles that understand that we need clean air, water, soil and food to keep us alive and well,” Suzuki said in a statement. “Matt Richter has demonstrated his commitment to fight for a better future through green values, and that’s why he has my support in this election.”
Meanwhile, Progressive Conservative candidate Graydon Smith made stops in Arnstein, Golden Valley, Port Loring, Restoule, Commanda, Argyle and South River over the weekend. With hospital wait times and doctor shortages arguably the most contentious issue in the election, Smith has posted multiple endorsements from the health care community in Parry Sound – Muskoka to Facebook.
“(Graydon) has been an unrelenting advocate for healthcare in Muskoka and I know that if he’s re-elected he will ensure that local healthcare continues to receive the attention and investment it deserves,” says Dr. Luke Wu of Bracebridge.
“Local healthcare in Muskoka has benefited immensely because of the efforts of Graydon Smith,” writes surgeon Dr. Rohit Gupta. “He has been relentless in his advocacy for local healthcare providers.”
In December 2024, Smith announced $6.5 million in new funding. Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare will get a $2.56 million increase in base funding, while the West Parry Sound Health Centre will get $1.81 million base funding boost. West Parry Sound Health Centre Foundation also received over $2 million in one-time funding to address in-year pressures.
“Our government continues to put Parry Sound-Muskoka at the top of the priority list,” said Smith at the time of the announcement. “This new funding is a testament to our steadfast commitment to ensure that rural and small-town hospitals – like those in Parry Sound, Bracebridge and Huntsville – have the funding required to deliver excellent accessibility and quality of care.”
The candidates in the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka are:
With just over a week to go until the February 27th election, Doug Ford has announced two endorsements. The first is from Mayor of Orillia, Don McIsaac.
The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) and the Ontario Provincial Police Association also announced Tuesday (February 18th) that they “are proud to stand behind Premier Doug Ford as he continues to prioritize public safety and the well-being of our members.” The law enforcement agencies cite the government’s $32M investment in mental health resources tailored to public safety professionals and “Unwavering support for ensuring our members have the resources they need to keep communities safe.”
In an unexpected shift in strategy, Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie, whose primary election issue has been health care, stated that she is asking NDP supporters to join her camp instead.
“I’m asking those of you who voted NDP in the last election to vote Liberal, to vote for a government that will fix our health-care system and to get you a family doctor,” she said in her closing statement during Monday night’s debate.
At campaign stops this morning, both Crombie and Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles urged voters to choose them as the progressive alternative to Ford. Stiles took aim at the Liberals, who only held nine of 124 seats in the legislature at dissolution last month compared to the 28 of the official opposition NDP.
“They’re just trying to make party status,” she said, referring to the threshold of 12 seats for official standing in the house.
However, Ontario’s Liberals appear to have gained some momentum. An Abacus poll of 1500 people conducted from February 13th to 15th and released on February 17th suggests that while the Ford PCs remain the clear favourites, the once very large lead over the Liberals and NDP has tightened to just 13-points among committed Ontarians.
The Progressive Conservatives continue to lead, with 33% support among all eligible voters—a dip of 4 points in the last two weeks, down 6 since just before the campaign started. The Ontario Liberals are now in a clear second with 23% (up 4), while the New Democrats are holding steady at 17%. The Greens remain at 5%, and 19% of voters remain undecided. When looking at likely voters—those who say they are certain to cast a ballot—the PCs hold a larger advantage at 43% compared with 28% for the OLP and 21% for the NDP.
The provincial election is on Thursday February 27th. You can vote at any advance voting location in your electoral district from 10 AM to 8 PM (Eastern Time) from February 20th to 22nd. Remember to bring your ID. To find out where you can vote go to the Elections Ontario website.
