“I think [Orleans residents] have shown very clearly that Trump-style politics does not belong in Ontario.”
Stephen Blais had to wait a little longer than expected in Orleans, but the Liberal MPP will return to his seat in Queen’s Park.
He celebrated his re-election late Thursday evening with his friends, family and supporters at OCCO Kitchen, his favourite Ottawa restaurant.
Blais won 54.2 per cent of the vote, besting runner-up Stéphan Plourde of the Ontario PC Party by more than 10,000 votes.
NDP candidate Matthew Sévigny was poised for third with 3,371 votes, followed by Green Party candidate Michelle Petersen with 1,398 votes.
While results were delayed until 11 p.m., because one polling station was open late, Blais was already talking like a winner long before the news became official.
Before a Liberal win was called for the riding, Blais teared up as he gave a speech to party-goers and thanked those who campaigned door-to-door this winter.
“I think we touched something like 60 or 75 thousand constituents between door knocking, phone calls, social media and emails, and it’s because of everyone in this room,” he said. “Thank you for everything that you’ve done to ensure that we can keep Orléans Liberal.
“Orléans residents chose honesty, they chose integrity,” he added. “I think they have shown very clearly that Trump-style politics does not belong in Ontario, it doesn’t belong in Canada, and it certainly doesn’t belong in Orléans.”
The crowd of over 40 people cheered, clapped and chanted for “four more years” during Blais’ speech.
Leaving the party before Elections Ontario confirmed the win, campaign volunteer Lydia Gaudreau said she looks forward to Blais retaining his seat.
Evening Update
“He always has worked hard for Orléans, and I know he will continue to work hard for Orléans,” she said.
In an interview after official results were called in his favour, Blais said he’s looking forward to celebrating later into the night before heading back to Queen’s Park – and getting to work on securing family doctors and primary care for Ontarians.
“There are 14,000 of our neighbours here in Orléans that don’t have access to a family doctor … We need the government to fund primary care and family doctors,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to be working on when we get to Toronto.”
Liberals have held the seat since 2003, with Blais serving as MPP since a 2020 by-election.
PC candidate Stéphan Plourde also led a campaign prioritizing health care and education, but with an additional platform of fighting against threatened U.S. tariffs.
Plourde also came under fire for some signs his campaign put up along Highway 174 reading “Honk to oppose Liberal Blais’ 174 toll plan” even though highway tolls were not part of the Blais campaign.
At the PC watch party in a restaurant off Orléans Boulevard, about 35 people gathered to support the first-time candidate.
Conceding the election, Plourde thanked his family and celebrated the efforts of his campaign’s volunteers.
“Though I may not be your MPP this time, I can assure you, I will continue to fight,” Plourde said. “I will also tell [Blais] he’s got four years to step up,” Plourde said, “because I’m coming back.”
In an interview, Plourde said he hopes Blais will work with the new Ford government to protect Orléans residents’ interests, particularly against the impacts of potential tariffs.
“His role is not to always be opposing everything,” Plourde said. “There are good ideas that transcend political stripe. Ultimately, if it’s good for the people, it’s good for the people.”
Garnett Gow, a 78-year-old retiree and PC supporter wearing a “Canada Is Not For Sale” hat, said he would like to see “stronger East Ontario representation for a change” from the Progressive Conservatives in Queen’s Park.
“I believe Doug Ford is the best man to lead us at this time of ‘Trump invasion’ as I call it,” Gow added. “I think the East end wards don’t get as much as the city and Toronto.”
Gow said Ford needs to reconsider some of the province’s priorities, notably improving health care as he’s been waiting for a shoulder operation for 18 months.
The NDP’s Matthew Sévigny had a campaign focused on housing, education and accessible transit. Part of his platform focused on fighting the privatization of healthcare and building 250,000 affordable homes across Ontario.
Michelle Petersen of the Green Party ran in Orléans in the 2019 federal election. She focused this campaign on francophone issues, health care, housing and sustainable communities, promising affordable and accessible mental health services and a guaranteed basic income program.
Arabella Vida, founder of Ethan Vida Organization, which focuses on special needs children with health issues, and Burthomley Douzable, who focused on housing and transportation, ran as independents. Patricia Hooper, who cited the COVID-19 lockdown as her reason for running, ran for the New Blue Party of Ontario, and Ken Lewis, who called for change in the current political system, was the Orléans candidate for the Libertarian Party.
With files from Robyn Best
