Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie returned to the Barrie area for the second time during this election campaign, in an effort to court the residents of Barrie-Springwater-Oro Medonte.
Her message? Vote Liberal, and you will have a family doctor within the next four years.
On Thursday, Crombie and local Liberal candidate Rose Zacharias held a press conference in Elmvale, approximately 25 minutes north of Barrie, to symbolize the impact of the ongoing healthcare crisis in small towns across Ontario.
“This incredible community has been without a family doctor since 2022,” said Zacharias, herself an emergency room physician. “This is in spite of all the efforts they have put forward since the family doctor in this community passed away years ago.”
Elmvale has a population of 2,314 people, according to the latest government figures.
Zacharias introduced a local resident named Tom, who said he’s lived in Elmvale his entire life but has been without a doctor “for years.”
“My wife and I, we go to the Midland hospital in the emergency section, and I find the Midland hospital is fantastic, they’re doing their best,” said Tom.
“But if Bonnie Crombie comes to our little town in this weather today, I think I’m going to listen to what she has to say.”
READ MORE: Barrie-Springwater-Oro Medonte preview: Liberals look to upset Attorney General Doug Downey
Crombie also launched the party’s campaign in the Barrie area, kicking off the election period with a speech outside the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital last month.
Progressive Conservative (PC) Leader Doug Ford has said the snap Ontario election is needed to give the government a new mandate as they try to dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump from bringing forward broad tariffs on Canadian goods.
But Crombie has largely centred the Liberal campaign around health care.
“You have a choice in this election…, you can vote for a Liberal government and I pledge to you today that you will have a family doctor in the next four years, and that will of course eliminate hallway medicine and reduce the wait times in our hospitals,” she said on Thursday. “Or, you can vote for Doug Ford and the [Progressive] Conservative government, and have a fantasy tunnel under the 401.”
“He’s had seven years to make a difference, he’s had seven years to invest in our healthcare system, and he didn’t get it done.”
Public opinion data suggests Ford and the PCs are likely to secure another term in government, but Barrie-Springwater-Oro Medonte projects to be a toss-up between the PCs and Liberals.
Zacharais, also a former president of the Ontario Medical Association, is facing Attorney General Doug Downey, who has kept the riding blue since it was established in 2018.
READ MORE: Barrie-Innisfil preview: Khanjin looks to make it three straight wins for PCs
Meanwhile, in the city’s other riding of Barrie-Innisfil, Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin is favoured to be elected for a third consecutive time for the PCs.
Barrie Mayor Alex Nutall, a former Conservative MP, has endorsed Ford and the local PC candidates, describing the incumbent government as “an incredible partner for Barrie.”
