Sea of blue spans York - Simcoe, as Munro is elected
By Chris Simon and Bill Rea

Victory seemed easy for Julia Munro last Wednesday night.

The Progressive Conservative candidate defeated her five opponents to become MPP for York- Simcoe in the provincial election.

Munro captured 19,170 votes, or 46.2 per cent of popular support, according to figures released last week by Elections Ontario, while Liberal candidate John Gilbank finished second with 12,784 votes, or 30.8 per cent support. Green Party candidate Jim Reeves garnered 4,663 votes or 11.3 per cent of the popular support, New Democrat Nancy Morrison received 4,204 votes or 10.1 per cent support, Libertarian candidate Caley McKibbin earned 349 votes or .8 per cent support and Family Coalition Party candidate Victor Carvalho received 297 votes, or .7 per cent support.

As well, in the referendum on proposed electoral reform, voters in York - Simcoe opted solidly for the current system, known commonly as first past the post. There were 26,145 votes, or 64.6 per cent for the status quo, as opposed to the 14,302 (35.4 per cent) who favoured the proposed mixed-member proportional system.

Munro, a self-confessed worrier, said the grind of the month-long election campaign was tough.

"I always work hard, I never take anything for granted, but I was very fortunate to get such a great team of volunteers that came out and worked so well," she said.

Munro celebrated the victory with about 20 of her supporters at a Bradford restaurant. She arrived shortly after being declared the victor, the crowd cheering and whistling as she entered the establishment. Blue and white balloons, and matching "Julia Munro" signs decorated the facility.

A slight smile came upon Munro's face as she joined the party.

Munro said she can still be an effective member of provincial parliament, despite her party's official opposition status. The Liberals were re-elected to govern the province, earning 71 seats, compared the Conservative total of 26. The NDP earned 10 seats. PC Leader John Tory also lost his Toronto riding, being defeated by Liberal Education Minister Kathleen Wynne. The defeat means Tory won't have a seat in the legislature at Queen's Park.

"This is a united caucus," said Munro. "You will see some strength in keeping the government accountable."

The Conservatives will work toward passing legislation ensuring the health of Lake Simcoe. They'll also try to help reduce highway gridlock and increase the number of practising doctors in the region, she said.

"The most important thing is to advocate on behalf of the constituents of this riding," Munro declared. "The two issues that seem to be of the utmost importance to area voters are the complexity around gridlock and shortage of doctors. There's progress to be made in terms of (the) lake and sewage treatment."

Munro has served as MPP for York North since 1995, and had several roles in government including parliamentary assistant to the premier, the management board and ministries of transportation and culture. She's also served on a public accounts committee, which reviews government appointments and agencies such as the LCBO and Hydro One.

Although Liberal candidate Aileen Carroll won her Barrie riding, Munro was part of a wave of area seats won by the Conservatives. Newmarket- Aurora MPP Frank Klees, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson and Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop were all re-elected under the Conservative banner.

Other candidates also had reason to celebrate the results.

"Overall, for the province, it's great," Gilbank declared.

It was a slightly different story, looking at the race in the riding.

"I would have preferred a different ending," he said, but pointed out the Grits improved their performance in the area from the last election, and established good contacts for the riding with the government.

"I was hoping, of course, to win, but it's not the type of thing you're likely to do first time out against a very well-established incumbent," he added.

Gilbank also said he would have to wait and see before deciding to run again.

"It was a good experience," he said, but added he has to get elected before he can do anything in office. "Retail politics is part of the job. That's the part I have to work on."

Reeves, a retired engineer, said his party made large strides throughout the riding. The Greens earned more than 11 per cent of the popular vote in York - Simcoe, compared to about three per cent during the last provincial campaign.

However, he was disappointed in the low voter turnout of about 50.8 per cent, and the defeat of proposed electoral reform in the referendum.

"What was disappointing was the defeat of the MMP vote and the interest in the election as a whole," he said. "People didn't seem to be concerned about a lack of jobs and the effect on the environment. But overall, we're very pleased with ourselves. We're very happy with the outcome."

Some weren't taking the results as positively.

"As a parent of a child with autism, I am terrified for my son for the next four years," Morrison declared, as she envisioned more court cases coming up, now that Dalton McGuinty has been returned as premier.

"He's still fighting the families in court," she declared. "When they get a majority government, they can do whatever they want."

On a local level, Morrison said she was disappointed with the results, commenting she had been receiving positive feedback while campaigning, and had been hoping for better. She suggested the election was diverted by Tory's plan for funding faith-based schools, suggesting that worked against the NDP too. Since the Green party was the only one advocating one public system, she figured a lot of votes went that way when they would have gone to the New Democrats.

Morrison said it's "possible" she'd run again.

"It was a great life experience," she remarked. "I won't say no. I won't say definitely yes."

McKibbin said he wasn't surprised at the voter turnout, adding he expected increased apathy, considering the options that were available.

As far as his own results were concerned, he said they were maybe a little better than he had expected.

He also said he wasn't surprised with the referendum results, observing the Liberals would not have put forth a referendum on something that could take powers away from them unless they were confident it wouldn't pass.

"I'm happy and sad," Carvalho commented.

He said he's happy people had the opportunity to vote, but sad that they seem to be numb to fundamental values.

"The family is not a sacred institution," he lamented, adding it's been watered down to "an unsacred union" as people value the economy over family values.

But on the positive side, he did point out that people here are able to elect a government without bloodshed, and he expressed the hope that they could be rallied to do something about values.

Carvalho wasn't sure if he would run again. He's 62, and said he would rather not, hoping that some younger people would have enough conscience to step up and take on the cause.

The York-Simcoe riding was established prior to last week's election, and includes an area stretching from Georgina to Innisfil, taking in the northern portion of King Township.