Doug Downey, the Ontario Progressive Conservative candidate for Barrie–Springwater– Oro-Medonte, is feeling confident as the provincial election picks up speed.
“I’m feeling energized,” Downey said. “The campaign is growing, and we’ve got all the logistics moving – I want to keep getting things done for the people here.”
Downey was elected as the MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte in 2018 and re elected in 2022 as part of the Ontario PC majority government. Since June 2019, he has also served as Ontario’s Attorney General.
On January 24, 2025, Premier Doug Ford announced that he would ask the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the legislature and call a snap election. On January 28, the writs of election were issued, officially dissolving the Legislature and starting the campaign.
Ford has stated that opposing United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs is his primary reason for calling the early election, and he is seeking another majority mandate from Ontario voters to continue the fight.
Downey said while door knocking and speaking with local residents, Trump’s tariffs have been a key topic of discussion.
“I’m hearing that people are really worried about what’s going on with the tariffs,” he said.
“People want to make sure we have a strong government that is in place to fight
this during all of Trump’s term in office.”
As Downey is seeking a third term, he said he plans to keep a big focus on infrastructure in the riding if re-elected.
“We’ve done a ton of infrastructure work in the riding,” he said. “Bridge work over Highway 400, Highway 11 up towards Oro-Medonte and more over the last seven years. The Dunlop Street bridge is next, so I want to make sure more infrastructure works gets done.”
Amid a province-wide shortage of family doctors, Downey pledged that a re-elected Ontario PC government would continue to address the issue directly.
“We have been unleashing the power of health teams,” he said. “We want to make sure that every family will be able to have access to a doctor and nurse practitioners.”
During Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie’s campaign visit to Barrie on January 29, the Ontario PC Party announced an endorsement from Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. Downey highlighted the strong working relationship he and Barrie–Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin have cultivated with Nuttall since he assumed office in December 2022.
“I’m appreciative to have his endorsement and it’s been a great working relationship with the mayor,” he said. “We all have a Team Barrie approach. We’re all going in the same direction for Barrie and the surrounding areas, so it’s been helpful.”
Ontario residents will vote for the next provincial government on February 27.
