Win in Guelph proves 'Greens are here to stay,' says Mike Schreiner

Green Party of Ontario LeaderMike Schreiner will keep his seat in Guelph and he says the winproves "the Greens are here to stay.

This will be Schreiner's second term as MPP representing the Guelph riding. His 2018 win was historic because he was the first Green party member ever elected to theOntario Legislature.

"We're building momentum across this riding and across this province," Schreiner told a crowd of supporters at the Delta Hotel in Guelph Thursday night.

Even though the Greens failed to pick up a second seat the other candidate thought to have a chance at winning wasMatt Richter in Parry Sound-Muskoka, who lost a close race to PC candidate Graydon Smith Schreiner said "there is greatGreen wave building across this province."

He listed a number of priorities for when he returns to Queen's Park, including housing, the cost of living, mental health supports and the environment.

"I will work to amplify your voices because we need change, especially when it comes to acting on the climate emergency," he said.

He congratulated Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford on his win.

"The people have spoken. But at this critical moment, at this critical moment in time, I ask you to consider the financial, the economic and the climate implications of paving over the places we love, the farmland that feeds us, and the nature that protects us," Schreiner said.

With all polls reported, Schreiner won with 54 per cent of the vote. It was asignificant lead over runner-up Peter McSherryof the Progressive Conservatives, who had20 per cent of the vote.

Liberal candidate RaechelleDevereaux wasin third with 13 per centin Guelph and NDP's James Parr wasin fourth with almost eightper cent of the vote.

Will Lomker of the New Blue Party was in fifth, Juanita Burnett of the Communist party was sixth and Paul Taylor of the None of the Above Party was seventh.

Elections Ontario reported nearly 49 per cent of eligible voters in Guelph cast a ballot in this election, down from 61 per cent in 2018.

Riding history

In recent history, Progressive Conservative Brenda Elliott held the seat in Guelph from 1995 to 1999 and again when the riding changed to Guelph-Wellington from 1999 to 2003.

In 2003, Liberal Liz Sandals beat Elliott. She was the MPP for Guelph-Wellington from 2003 until 2007 and for Guelph until her retirement in 2018.

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