Ontario Greens seek to build on Schreiner's debate performance, eye 2 ridings
CBC
Ontario's Green leader spoke about housing and youth issues Tuesday in two ridings where he sees the best chances of growing his party, seeking to build on the momentum from his fiery performance at the leaders' debate the night before.
In Huntsville, Mike Schreiner directly addressed young voters at an announcement alongside fifth-time Green candidate Matt Richter, who the party hopes will clinch a seat in Parry Sound-Muskoka given the race there has no incumbent Tory and no Liberal rival in the running.
"I want to give a quick shout out to young voters: the future is in your hands," Schreiner said at the event, flanked by young campaign volunteers — some of them former students of Richter's.
He hit on repeated campaign themes of anxiety over climate change and affordability, saying the Greens are here to "fight for your future" before calling for voters to send more Greens to the legislature.
"We need more MPPs like Matt Richter to fight for the Ontario you want," he said.
Schreiner made a strong impression Monday night at his second debate of the campaign, landing sharp criticisms of Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford's record on the pandemic, the environment and his relationship with health workers.
Out canvassing on Tuesday, Schreiner was at times recognized and complimented on his debate performance as he knocked on doors in a scenic Huntsville neighbourhood. Others honked their horns at the sight of Schreiner's campaign wheels: an electric vehicle painted signature Green.
After winning the Green party's first-ever seat in the legislature in Guelph four years ago, Schreiner said Tuesday that he hopes to grab another in Parry Sound-Muskoka for Richter. He said similar themes to his 2018 campaign are emerging with a large group of enthusiastic volunteers and lawn signs popping up across the geographically large riding.
At the announcement — which included a promise to build 1,000 affordable rental units in the riding — both candidates spoke to housing strain in Parry Sound-Muskoka, which they said has made it difficult for employers in tourism and health care to attract and retain workers, among other challenges.
Schreiner also spoke about climate concerns in the region such as worsening flooding and touted himself and his party as the team best suited to address the climate crisis.
Richter, who won 20 per cent of the vote in the 2018 election, had just returned from a trek around the riding he described as more than twice the size of Prince Edward Island. The surprise lack of a Liberal candidate after that party dropped theirs last week shortly before the nomination deadline has boosted some extra hope into the campaign, he said.
"It's certainly given a lot of encouragement for people to vote Green who might have been on the fence, and it's given everybody who has already voted Green an exceptional amount of enthusiasm that this riding truly will be the second writing in Ontario's history to go Green," he said.
Earlier in the day, Schreiner stopped in Toronto's University-Rosedale riding, where former environmental commissioner Dianne Saxe is considered another star candidate for the Greens.
Schreiner mentioned both Saxe's and Richter's campaigns on Monday night in his final plea to viewers of the election debate.