NEWS

Hoskins easily keeps St. Paul’s

Victorious St. Paul's Liberal incumbent
WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED: Victorious St. Paul’s Liberal incumbent breaks out the champagne with wife Samantha Nutt while son Rhys, bottom left, looks on. Hoskins won his riding handily with 59.6 percent of the vote.

The big red machine not only rolled through the province, but it also rolled through the riding of St. Paul’s.

Liberal incumbent Eric Hoskins won his riding for a third time, garnering 59.9 percent of the vote with 230 of 232 polls having reported.

The closest opposition was Progressive Conservative candidate Justine Deluce, who had 23.9 percent of the vote.

“As much as we had hoped for this result and wanted it so desperately and worked so hard for, Kathleen Wynne — who I know everyone will agree — did an absolutely tremendous job in this election,” he said at Sports Centre Cafe on St. Clair Avenue West, his celebration headquarters.

Notables in the audience to support Hoskins were his wife Samantha Nutt and son Rhys, along with Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow, St. Paul’s MP Carolyn Bennett and Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida.

Aside from his speech to supporters, Hoskins told the Town Crier his priorities will continue to be within St. Paul’s, working for the rights of renters who make up 60 percent of the population.

“It’s really people believing in Kathleen Wynne’s social services,” Hoskins said in analyzing the election results, and how St. Paul’s voters responded at the polls.

Deluce arrived to her volunteer’s camp at Scallywag’s and spoke with the Town Crier just before addressing them.

She lauded her staff for their hard work.

“I’m extremely proud of the campaign that we ran,” she said. “I’m extremely proud of my team, and grateful for their dedication to the vision.

“Unfortunately that vision wasn’t shared by the majority of Ontarians, and I congratulate Eric Hoskins on his victory tonight.”

Campaigning at the doors, Deluce said, she became aware that voters are still expecting more accountability on where their tax dollars are going.

“I think that even though the status quo remains with the sitting member, I think that it was made clear to me at the doors that people expect more from their representatives with respect to accountability and transparency and that they deserve a greater level of respect when it comes to how their money is spent.”