Editorial: Compelling race

Today Ontarians chart a new course for their future.

Do voters maintain the status quo and re-elect Liberal Dalton McGuinty to a third straight term?

Or does Conservative Leader Tim Hudak revive his freefalling campaign at the last minute and convince voters it’s time for a change.
And there’s always Andrea Horwath and the NDP, whose numbers continue to surge, the electorate having finally been able to put Bob Rae in the history books.

Thunder Bay voters face similar challenges. Liberals Michael Gravelle and Bill Mauro have done plenty for Northwestern Ontario, but voters’ memories are short.

While the region has traditionally been Liberal territory, the NDP?have been surging here, and look poised to possibly take one, if not both, ridings. Win or lose, it will be close for Mary Kozorys, looking to unseat Mauro, and Steve Mantis, who is taking on the popular Gravelle. 

And the Conservatives, traditionally the also-ran party in Thunder?Bay, finished second in the recent federal election and have trotted out a pair of well-known star candidates in Fred Gilbert and Anthony LeBlanc.

The strength of all six candidates alone makes this the most compelling provincial election in years.

Make sure you get out and vote.