The Progressive Conservatives win a second majority and continue to hold on to local ridings

The Progressive Conservatives won the local ridings across the Quinte region and a second majority in the election last night.

Leader Doug Ford and his team gained seven seats with a total of 83. The NDP have secured the official Opposition post again with 31 seats. The Liberals only claimed eight seats and have not secured official party status for the second straight election. Both NDP leader Andrea Horwath and Liberal leader Stephen Del Duca stepped down last night.

The Tories continue to hold on to the three local ridings in the broader Bay of Quinte region. Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk released a statement this morning congratulating conservative winners Todd Smith and Ric Bresee. Panciuk thanked all the candidates who put their names forward in the election.

Here is where the unofficial numbers are at this afternoon. All the data is posted on the Elections Ontario website.

Bay of Quinte Riding:

• Todd Smith (PC) – 21,351 votes (49.29%)
• Alison Kelly (NDP) – 9,058 votes (20.91%)
• Emilie Leneveu (Liberal) – 7,997 votes  (18.49%)
• Erica Charlton (Green) – 2,719 (6.28%)
• Rob Collins (New Blue) – 1,128 (2.60%)
• Noah Wales (Ontario Party) – 1,062 (2.45%)

* All 87 polls have reported. Smith won by 12,293 votes. Voter turnout was 45%. Smith was the incumbent heading into the race and has won his fourth election.

 

Hastings-Lennox and Addington Riding:

• Ric Bresee (PC) – 18,129 votes (47.55%)
• Eric Depoe (NDP) – 7,258 votes (19.04%)
• Ted Darby (Liberal) – 7,055 votes (18.50%)
• Derek Sloan (Ontario Party) – 2,812 votes (7.38%)
• Christina Wilson (Green) – 1,744 votes (4.57%)
• Joyce Reid (New Blue) – 1,128 votes (2.96%)

* All 89 polls have reported. Bresee won by 10,871 votes. Voter turnout was just under 47%. Bresee is the warden of Hastings-Lennox and Addington and has worked in a variety of roles within municipal politics. He is also the mayor of Loyalist Township.

 

Northumberland-Peterborough South Riding:

• David Piccini (PC) – 26,209 votes (50.95%)
• Jeff Kawzenuk (Liberal) – 12,861 votes (25%)
• Kim McArthur-Jackson (NDP) – 6,721 votes (13.07%)
• Lisa Francis (Green) – 2,918 (5.67%)
• Vanessa Head (Ontario Party) – 1,573 (3.06%)
• Joshua Chalhoub (New Blue) – 1,155 (2.25%)

* All 104 polls have reported. Piccini won by 13,348 votes. Voter turnout was 51%. Piccini was the incumbent in the election. This will be his second term.

Elections Ontario has stated this afternoon that voter turnout across the province was very low at 43%. Officials note that it is down again compared to 57% recorded in 2018. The dip is the second-largest in the province’s history.