Candidly I thought it would be a lot closer.
The Conservatives ran as strong a candidate as the could and did a pretty good job on the campaign.
But the result shows they might as well have stayed home.
The fact is that the Provincial government, despite some bumps in the road, is doing a good job and the voters see that:
Liberals win big in St. Paul's
(Toronto Star)

September 18, 2009
Queen's Park Bureau
Premier Dalton McGuinty's harmonized sales tax passed its first test with voters last night as the Liberals romped to a key by-election victory in the mid-town riding of St. Paul's.
Despite efforts by the Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats to stoke public anger in the long-held Liberal riding over what they called a "tax grab" from the 13 per cent HST coming next July, voters sent Dr. Eric Hoskins to the Legislature.
Government sources told the Star that Hoskins, a 48-year-old family physician and co-founder of the charity War Child Canada, is being groomed for a position in McGuinty's cabinet.
Hoskins, a married father of one, trounced Conservative challenger Sue-Ann Levy, the city hall columnist for the Toronto Sun; New Democrat lawyer Julian Heller, and realtor Chris Chopik from the Green party.
The Liberals had feared the race might be closer for many reasons, not the least of which was Levy – a high-profile, Jewish, openly gay candidate in one of Ontario's more cosmopolitan ridings.
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
416 225 2777
2 comments:
I find it encouraging that while the Liberal stronghold remained Red, the lead for the party shrunk in comparison to previous contests. This should mean something, that while the Liberals think this means they are getting away with the HST, and mismanagement, in fact, their core base is not necessarily as strong as it once was.
People are waking up and the Ontario PCs are not done pointing out the problems in this administration. I am proud of Ms. Levy's campaign, she was active, very visible and open to the electorate. Unlike Hoskins who hid from the issues.
Now that he is headed to a cabinet post in the McGuinty caucus, people of St. Paul better get used to his continued absence. Clearly a majority of people in St. Paul would rather prop up the McGuinty government, rather than elect someone who would act and speak for them tirelessly.
Anonymous @ 10:29 am: the proportional results of the by election were virtually identical to the last provincial election. Here are the figures:
Eric Hoskins (Liberal) 13192 47.60% -8088 +0.17%
Sue-Ann Levy (PC) 7851 28.33% -4059 +1.79%
Julian Heller (NDP) 4677 16.88% -2384 +1.14%
Chris Chopik (Green) 1515 5.47% -2229 -2.87%
Note that the Liberal vote was actually marginally better than last time by 0.17 %. Yes, the PC vote was marginally greater at 1.79 % but nothing to brag about. The NDP by about the same amount. The real loser was the Green candidate whose share of the vote was 2.87 % less this time than last.
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