Ontario voters have delivered Doug Ford’s PCs a convincing majority government for the second time in a row, with PC candidates winning all four ridings in the greater Kawarthas region.

An hour after the polls closed on Thursday (June 2), it was clear the Progressive Conservatives were well on their way to a decisive victory, with candidates elected or leading in more than 80 ridings. By the time all polls had reported, the PCs had won 83 seats, an increase of seven over their 2018 majority.

The New Democrats won 31 ridings, a loss of nine seats from their showing in 2018 but enough for them to remain the official opposition — the first time in Ontario history the NDP has been the official opposition twice in a row. However, the lack of any gains was enough to prompt leader Andrea Horwath to announce she is stepping down.

The Liberals suffered a disastrous night, winning only eight seats — one more compared to the 2018 election that was the worst result in the party’s history. For the second straight election, the Liberals did not win enough seats to earn official party status. As well, Liberal leader Steven Del Duca was defeated in his home riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge by Conservative Michael Tibollo, and later announced he is stepping down as leader.

The Green Party of Ontario has maintained its single seat in the legislature, with leader Mike Schreiner massively winning his seat in Guelph. The province’s only independent MPP was also elected on Thursday night: Bobbi Ann Brady in Haldimand-Norfolk, the former executive assistant of retired incumbent Toby Barrett of the Conservatives, who threw his support behind her instead of the PC candidate.

Of the 10.7 million registered voters in Ontario, around 4.6 million voted on Thursday — a turnout of just over 43 per cent, which is 14 per cent less than the 2018 election.

In the greater Kawarthas region, PC incumbent Laurie Scott easily held on to Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, earning 53 per cent of the vote and 17,979 more votes than the NDP’s Barbara Doyle. In Northumberland-Peterborough South, PC incumbent David Piccini also easily held on to his seat, garnering 51 per cent of the vote with a margin of 13,348 votes over Liberal Jeff Kawzenuk. In Hastings-Lennox and Addington, PC Ric Bresee captured 48 per cent of the vote, beating the NDP’s Eric Depoe by 10,871 votes.

The race was tighter in Peterborough-Kawartha, where PC incumbent Dave Smith took 39 per cent of the vote, with 4,167 more votes than Liberal Greg Dempsey. Almost 52 per cent of the vote was split between Dempsey (31 per cent) and the NDP’s Jen Deck (21 per cent).

With the exception of Northumberland-Peterborough South, candidates for the Ontario Party finished in fourth place ahead of the Greens. In Hastings-Lennox and Addington, Ontario Party leader Derek Sloan earned over seven per cent of the vote.

Voter turnout was 51.27 per cent in Peterborough-Kawartha (compared to 62.74 per cent in 2018), 47.63 per cent in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock (compared to 59.66 per cent in 2018), 51.38 per cent in Northumberland-Peterborough South (compared to 64.64 per cent in 2018), and 46.98 per cent in Hastings-Lennox and Addington (compared to 59.10 per cent in 2018).

Here are the final unofficial election results for the greater Kawarthas region as reported by Elections Ontario just after midnight on June 3.

Peterborough-Kawartha

93/93 polls reporting
Registered voters: 102,172
Voter turnout: 51.27%

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock

98/98 polls reporting
Registered voters: 102,111
Voter turnout: 47.63%

Northumberland-Peterborough South

104/104 polls reporting
Registered voters: 100,111
Voter turnout: 51.38%

Hastings-Lennox and Addington

89/89 polls reporting
Registered voters: 81,150
Voter turnout: 46.98%

This story has been updated with the final election results.

Ontario voters head to the polls today (June 2) to elect a new provincial government.

Polls open at 9 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. If you don’t know your polling location, enter your postal code at the Elections Ontario website.

To vote, bring your voter information card that you received in the mail and a piece of identification showing your name (photo ID is not required). Your ID can be shown on a mobile device.

If you didn’t receive your voter information card, you can still vote by bringing one piece of ID showing both your name and your current residential address.

Below are the candidates in each riding in the greater Kawarthas region.

They are listed in priority according to the number of seats their party held in the Ontario legislature after the last election or, for parties that did not win seats, by the longevity of their party. On the ballot, candidates are listed alphabetically by their surname.

Peterborough-Kawartha

• Dave Smith – Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (incumbent)
• Jen Deck – New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Greg Dempsey – Liberal Party of Ontario
• Robert Gibson – Green Party of Ontario
• Dylan Smith – None of the Above Party
• Tom Marazzo – Ontario Party
• Rebecca Quinnell – New Blue Party

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock

• Laurie Scott – Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (incumbent)
• Barbara Doyle – New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Don McBey – Liberal Party of Ontario
• Tom Regina – Green Party of Ontario
• Gene Balfour – Ontario Libertarian Party
• Kelly Kerstin – Ontario Party
• Ben Prentice – New Blue Party

Northumberland-Peterborough South

• David Piccini – Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (incumbent)
• Kim McArthur-Jackson – New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Jeff Kawzenuk – Liberal Party of Ontario
• Lisa Francis – Green Party of Ontario
• Vanessa Head – Ontario Party
• Joshua Chalhoub – New Blue Party

Hastings-Lennox and Addington

• Ric Bresee – Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario *
• Eric Depoe – New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Ted Darby – Liberal Party of Ontario
• Christina Wilson – Green Party of Ontario
• Derek Sloan – Ontario Party (leader)
• Joyce Reid – New Blue Party

* Conservative incumbent Daryl Kramp announced his retirement from politics in February 2022.

In the last provincial election in 2018, the Progressive Conservatives were elected to a majority government with 76 seats, with the NDP becoming the official opposition with 40 seats and the Liberals losing their official party status with seven seats.

The Green Party of Ontario also made history by electing its first-ever MPP, with party leader Mike Schreiner winning in Guelph.

In the greater Kawarthas region, the Progressive Conservatives swept all four ridings, with both incumbent Liberals in Peterborough-Kawartha and Northumberland-Peterborough South losing their seats to neophyte PC candidates.

In the last few years, I feel like the transition from May to June has taken on important significance.

We are marking the two-year anniversaries of the murder of George Floyd and the police-involved death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. One year ago, the remains of 215 children were confirmed at the Kamloops Indian Residential School and, since then, many similar confirmations have been made across Canada. One year ago, there was a racist, pre-meditated attack motivated by Islamophobia in London, Ontario.

This year, we are recovering from that devastating storm and a provincial election that included hateful acts targeted at political leaders in downtown Peterborough.

This seems like an important time of year for healing, for truth, and for coming together as a community.

I’d like to share two reflections I am carrying for myself to recognize the need for both healing and also ongoing awareness for truth and history as we move forward.

Truth and reconciliation

June is National Indigenous History Month and Tuesday, June 21st — also the summer solstice this year — is commemorated as National Indigenous Peoples Day. The goal of these federal initiatives is to take time to recognize the history, heritage, resilience, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada.

Last year around this time, Sara Crouthers and I shared a “Summer Listening List” in the GreenUP column. That list included several important (and joyful as well as challenging) resources for listening and learning in support of truth and reconciliation.

In particular, Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg: This is Our Territory is an oral history of the Michi Saagiig Nisnaabeg recounted by by Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams) of Curve Lake First Nation. I also appreciate re-listening to my audiobook of 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality by Robert Joseph.

As I mourn the recent death of author and activist Lee Maracle, I’m also revisiting the REDTalk that featured her and others sharing reflections on how the pandemic offers opportunities to reconnect with the ecology of Indigenous values and step towards living in balance with all living beings. You can find it below, and other REDTalks by visiting redskyperformance.com/redtalks/.

VIDEO: REDTalks – Wisdom Keeper Series with Senator Murray Sinclair and Lee Maracle

Last, but certainly not least, my kids and I are constantly re-discovering the activities in the TRACKS Activity Books created by the Trent Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science Program.

And, to inform discussions with my kids, I am also revisiting the list of books and other resources provided by Nichol Stamp in How to discuss injustice toward Indigenous Peoples with your children, age 0-8. This is a short, easy-to-read blog post that offers age-appropriate family learning at its best when we need it most.

Racism and environmentalism

As we approach International Trails Day on June 4 and World Environment Day on June 5, it is important to reflect on how environmentalism has and continues to be connected with racism.

The early roots of the environmental movement in the 1800s are intimately connected to white male authority figures who created the pseudo-scientific foundation for white supremacy. In his book The Wizard and The Prophet, Charles C. Mann points out that many of the early white male leaders of the environmental movement “found little difference between protecting forests and cleaning up the human gene pool.”

Environmental racism describes the systems that reserve environmental privileges and exploitation for predominantly white communities, while pushing environmental contamination and damaging consequences into predominantly BIPOC communities.

Environmental racism continues today. Recent examples include: the ongoing lack of clean drinking water in First Nations communities across the country, including Curve Lake First Nation here in Peterborough; how the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba was displaced from prime farmland and in their current location they experience devastating flooding each year; and how pipelines and mining projects continue to be built on unceded Indigenous land and without consultation and consent.

Climate action isn’t only about the urgent need to reduce emissions. Just as COVID-19 hit hardest amongst racialized groups and the most vulnerable parts of our communities, so too climate change and environmental racism will continue to adversely impact racialized groups unless we build a more equitable society based in environmental justice.

That is why it is important we all learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are meant to be applied to our local situations such that we create communities that are not only sustainable and healthy but also equitable.

From 2019 to 2021, a local community forum coordinated by the Kawartha World Issues Centre and GreenUP identified five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as priorities for our region: eradicating poverty, quality education, clean water and sanitation, and climate action.

The fifth sustainable development goal, prioritizing Indigenous leadership, was chosen by our community to frame and lead the other four priority action areas.

Maybe there’s something symbolic about this time of year becoming associated with a renewed need for truth, history, and healing. Maybe the long days and bright sunshine are shining a light on the work we need to be doing together. This month, and every month, please actively seek out voices that advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity in environmentalism.

Here are some resources to consider:

• Diverse Nature Collective at www.diversenaturecollective.com.
• The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has an education page with resources for youth and adults at nctr.ca/education/.
• The Legacy of Hope Foundation website offers videos of residential school survivor sharing their stories, and many other resources, at legacyofhope.ca/wherearethechildren/stories/.
• The free online course, Indigenous Canada, offered through the University of Alberta at www.ualberta.ca/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/.
• A special program in honour of Earth Week 2022 from the Noor Cultural Centre in Toronto, called “All Our Relations” and “Communities Like You”: An Anishinaabe-Muslim Conversation on Conceptualizing Human and Other-Than-Human Relationships, at oorculturalcentre.ca/all-our-relations-and-communities-like-you-an-anishinaabe-muslim-conversation/.
• If you want to learn more about environmental justice, visit www.intersectionalenvironmentalist.com.

Peterborough police have arrested a suspect who returned to the scene of a break and enter at Lansdowne Place Mall where $19,000 worth of necklaces, watches, and cash was stolen from a jewellery store on Monday morning (May 30).

At around 6 a.m. on Monday, officers were called to the mall after an alarm went off. After arriving, police learned a man has broken into the mall and then into the jewellery store. The man stole 83 silver necklaces (several with intricate detailing), 19 men’s and women’s Citizen brand watches, and $200 in cash, with a total value of around $19,000.

At 11 p.m. on Monday, officers received a call about another break and enter in progress at Lansdowne Place Mall. After arriving at the mall, officers located a man hiding behind a door who matched the earlier description given to police.

When taking the suspect into custody, police found several items from the earlier break and enter on his person, along with around eight grams of fentanyl. Further investigation revealed reasonable grounds for charges in connection with a break and enter on Sunday, May 29 at a business in the Lansdowne Street West and Ford Street area.

As a result, a 25-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with three counts of break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, three counts of failure to comply with a probation order, and one count of possession of a Schedule 1 substance (fentanyl). The accused man appeared in court on Tuesday.

Some of the jewellery from the break and enter on Monday morning has not been recovered. Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police Crime Line at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at stopcrimehere.ca

With a few exceptions, all parks and trails in the City of Peterborough remain closed due to possible safety issues with trees damaged by the May 21st wind storm. Signage has been posted at the affected parks.

The city is strongly urging residents to respect park closures and to stay away from trees until the city can assess their condition and complete any necessary remediation work.

During inclement weather with high winds, a tree that may appear to be safe could have structural damage that poses a risk.

Nicholls Oval, Jackson Park, and Sherbrooke Woods have sustained substantial damage to treed areas.

Splash pads at Nicholls Oval, King Edward Park, and Roger’s Cove are closed as these parks have substantial debris or compromised trees that pose safety hazards, and will remain closed until forestry work and debris removal is complete.

Kinsmen Park and Barnardo Park are open, including their Splash pads.

Baseball diamonds are open at Bowers Park, Brinton Carpet, Bonnerworth North and South, Fairbairn/Poplar, Kinsmen, Milroy, Northland, Trent, Stacey Green, and Turner.

Sports fields are open at Eastgate Hogan, Eastgate Mark Forrester, Milroy, Trent, and Kinsmen. The Bonnerworth skatepark, Simcoe and Bethune basketball courts, and Legacy Bowl are also open.

Closed city parks that are reopened following assessments will be posted at peterborough.ca/stormresponse, or residents can call 705-742-7777 ext. 0 for an update.

COVID-19 immunization clinics operated by Peterborough Public Health are unavailable until next Monday (June 6), with the mass immunization clinic moving from the Healthy Planet Arena to the health unit’s offices in downtown Peterborough.

“We want to thank the City of Peterborough for allowing us to use the Healthy Planet Arena over the past two years,” says medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott in a media release. “We have been incredibly fortunate to work with the city staff and health care partners to provide over 350,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Peterborough region.”

Starting June 6, vaccinations will be available at a temporary clinic at Peterborough Public Health’s offices at 185 King Street. Residents can book appointments for the temporary clinic, but walk-in appointments will be unavailable at this time.

Residents who are seeking a vaccination this week can visit the GO-VAXX mobile clinic, which will be at Lansdowne Place Mall in Peterborough from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday (June 2). The mobile clinic have the Pfizer vaccine available for first, second, third, and booster doses (if eligible) for adults and youth aged 12 and up, as well as the pediatric Pfizer vaccine available for children aged five to 11.

Residents can also reach out to local participating pharmacies to book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine during this week.

For both the GO-VAXX mobile clinic and the new Peterborough Public Health clinic, residents can book appointments by calling 1-833-943-3900 or online at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/.

Residents who wish to book an appointment at the GO-VAXX mobile clinic should specify this when calling to book an appointment.

Peterborough Public Health is working to determine a more permanent solution for the mass immunization clinic.

After making four arrests in connection with the 2020 murder of 18-year-old Alex Tobin in Omemee, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is seeking a fifth suspect.

Police have obtained a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of 29-year-old Clinton “Trizzy” McDonald, of no fixed address, who is charged with accessory after the fact in the murder of Tobin.

Tobin was shot in his girlfriend’s apartment at 36 King Street East in Omemee on February 18, 2020 and later died in hospital.

McDonald is known to use aliases and to regularly change his physical appearance. Anyone who recognizes McDonald should not approach him but should instead contact their local police service. Police are also urging McDonald to contact legal counsel and turn himself in to the nearest police service.

Five people have now been charged in connection with Tobin’s murder.

On May 13, the OPP announced 26-year-old Jeremy Brown was charged with second-degree murder and two counts of failing to comply with the condition of a release order.

On May 27, police announced 21-year-old Dawson Tullock of Oshawa was charged with accessory after the fact (murder) and 76-year-old Oswald Brown and 31-year-old Jordan Brown, both of Ajax, with two counts each of party to the offence of failure to comply with release conditions.

Tullock was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay on June 23.

Oswald and Jordan Brown were released from police custody and are scheduled to appear in court on June 23.

A $50,000 reward continues to be offered for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Tobin’s murder.

Anyone with information that would assist with the homicide investigation is asked to call the OPP’s dedicated tip line at 1-844-677-5020.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit tips online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca/submit-a-tip/submit-a-tip.