Ontario Votes 2018: GlengarryPrescottRussell

With no incumbent and the largest proportion of francophones in the region, the mainly rural GlengarryPrescottRussell riding should be a oneto watch this election.

GlengarryPrescottRussellincludes a portion of Ottawa's mosteastern populationwith the communities of Navan, Cumberland and Vars. Another segment of the riding's populationlives outside of Ottawabut commutes to the capital for work.

• Scroll down for a closer look at who makes up the riding, or click here.
• Here's what people inGlengarryPrescottRussell are concerned about this election.
• Who is running in eastern Ontario? Check out this riding map.

There's a significant francophone population,with the most recent census indicating that66 per cent of the population are able to conduct a conversation in both official languages.

Thelarge riding retained nearly all of its area in the recent redistribution of ridings, losing only one per cent of its land to the redrawnOrlansriding.

Who's running?

Liberal incumbent Grant Crackannounced earlier this year he willnot seek re-electionafterhavingheld the seat since 2011.

The riding hasn't been conservative since J. AlbertBelanger lost his seat in 1981, although the PC candidates in the last two elections garnered more than 30 per cent of the popular vote.

Pierre Leroux, mayor of Russell Township, is running to keep the seat red. The francophone politician got into a bit of hot water before campaigning officially began when he posted a 'get to know me' video containing a scene thatdepictedVanier as rundown and crime-ridden. Later on, he said some of hiscampaign signs were stolen.

Amanda Simard, a councillor in Russell Township with experience as a Parliament Hillstaffer, is running for the PCs. The NDP candidate is Bonnie Jean-Louis, a social justice and community advocate.

Also running inGlengarryPrescottRussell are Daniel Reid ofthe Green Party, independent candidateJol Charbonneau, and Darcy Neal Donnellyofthe Ontario Libertarian Party.

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