Provincial Election 2007

The trash heap of history

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

So, I guess this means we won't be recycling the signs this year?

The photo says it all

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

Liberal Liz Sandals is congratulated by Progressive Conservative candidate Bob Senechal tonight. Photo by Darren Calabrese, GuelphMercury.com.

                              

Liberal youth

Posted by Magda Konieczna

Liz Sandals had a couple of unlikely supporters last night.

Grade 12 students Scott McCaw and Peter La acted as scrutineers for her campaign. I met them at Sandals' victory party, where they explained to me why they're involved in politics at such a young age.

"If you know what you're doing, you can affect change and help your country," La said.

He described how a high school history class had shown him Canadian history can be interesting.

"If we don't get involved in poltiics now, everything in the past will be for nothing," he said.

For McCaw, Liberal support is something that runs in his family, from a grandfather who served as an MP all the way down to McCaw.

Both youth said they will continue their involvement in politics – an impressive commitment from members of an age group that's not even likely to cast a vote.

Ontarians are saturated

Posted by Magda Konieczna

The word in the last week or so was that voters were disenfranchised after a boring campaign – one that focused on an issue that wasn't particularly burning for most voters, and whose biggest proponent pulled back a week before the election.

Federal Liberal candidate Frank Valeriote reads that as fatigue. And he interprets that fatigue as a sign Ontarians aren't ready for a federal election.

"Ontarians wouldn’t want to see an election. They’re saturated with issues,"  he said at Liz Sandals' victory party earlier tonight.

But he said he expected a campaign soon after his April nomination meeting.

"I wish I had a crystal ball," he said.

Status quo

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

Is it just me, or does it seem nothing changed in this election?

The seat count is just about the same, the government is unchanged, the premier and his ministers retained their seats, Sandals is still the representative for Guelph, Arnott has extended his streak in the county, we still don't have a Green MPP and voters said they didn't want to change the way we vote.

Maybe this says something about fixed election dates.

At the Sandals camp

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

Reporter Magda Konieczna is at Liberal headquarters tonight.

She just called in to say it's a festive mood among Liberal supporters as they wait for Sandals to show up.

They're all watching the screens happy to see big numbers for Sandals and for the party across the province.

Most had nothing but good to say to Magda about the campaign, although she did hear some talk about vandalizing signs and negative campaigning.

Liberal campaign chair Don Jonescu blamed the vandalism on "disaffected voters and supporters of other parties" which he said had little effect on the Sandals effort.

CityTV counts it down

Posted by Matt Shurrie

Election day started early across the province with a plethora of coverage on the morning show circuit. All of the major players including A Channel, Global and E (formerly called CHCH in Hamilton) were reminding voters to get out and have their voices heard.

The Ontario election was a regular feature on CBC Newsworld and CTV Newsnet.

However, it was a rather unique feature splashed across City TV throughout the day that certainly drew the attention of more than a few viewers.

A countdown clock in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen started winding down at 9 a.m. and continued for the next 12 hours.

Anything that will help get voters out to the polls is a welcome addition to any broadcast day.

CP results page

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

Don't forget to check out our Canadian Press election results page.

It's pretty slick.

Right now it shows Sandals with 633 votes, Senechal with 357, Mann-Bowers with 189 and the Greens right behind with 186. Even Drew Garvie the communist candidate has logged one vote.

Bad news

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

Photographer Darren Calabrese is over at PC headquarters (aka Frugal McDougals). He just noted Bob Senechal has yet to show, which isn't strange on election night.

But he also noted the gasp heard 'round the restaurant when early numbers came up on the TV from Global. It flashed Sandals 126 and Senechal 68.

Darren said the feeling in the room was as if it was announced someone's mother just died.

Buck up Tories, the night ain't over yet. Although according to Global it is.

Really early numbers

Posted by Scott Tracey

First numbers, as reported by CTV:

GUELPH

Liz Sandals - 8
Bob Senechal - 5
Karan Mann-Bowers - 2

WELLINGTON - HALTON HILLS

Ted Arnott - 28
Marg Bentley - 17
Noel Duignan - 8