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The race is on to replace outgoing Jim Wilson

January 28, 2021   ·   0 Comments

With a year and a-half to go before the next Provincial election, candidates have started throwing their hats in the ring to seek the nomination for the Progressive Conservative candidate for Simcoe-Grey.

Current member of provincial parliament Jim Wilson announced in September of 2020 that he will not be running for re-election.

Wilson has been the MPP for Simcoe-Grey since 1990. He was the sitting member for the Conservatives until 2018, when he resigned from cabinet and the Progressive Conservative caucus.

After his September announcement, the Simcoe-Grey Progressive Conservative Association said they would enter a new selection process to find a new candidate to represent the riding.

Firm dates for a timeline with regards to the nomination process have not yet been announced. The provincial party will determine the date of the nomination vote.

So far, two people have announced their intention of running for the vacant position.

Collingwood Mayor Brian Saunderson has announced he will be seeking the nomination. He was elected Collingwood Deputy Mayor in 2014 and Mayor in 2018.

He has lived in Collingwood since 2001.

The other candidate, Stella Abler, moved to Wasaga Beach in 2020, from Mississauga.

Ms. Ambler is a former Member of Parliament representing Mississauga South as a member of the Conservative Party from 2011 to 2015 and was a backbencher in the Stephen Harper government.

She lost her seat in the general election of 2015.

“I’m passionate about public service,” Ms. Ambler told the Times back in November when she first made her decision to seek the nomination. “You’re never quite out of it entire when you love politics. As someone who’s been involved since 1985, I’ve never really been out of politics. It’s something I’ve always loved to do, and I’m guided by that spirit of service,”

The Progressive Conservative party announced in the fall that they expect all nominations to be in and a new candidate selected by March 21, 2021.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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