THUNDER BAY -- With a little more than a week to go before the Ontario election officially gets under way, the Green Party has finally named its candidates in four Northwestern Ontario ridings.
Eric Arner will take on NDP incumbent Judith Monteith-Farrell in Thunder Bay-Atikokan, a race that also includes Conservative Kevin Holland and the still-to-be nominated Liberal candidate, expected to be Robert Barrett.
In Thunder Bay-Superior North, Tracey MacKinnnon, who ran federally for the Greens last year, has taken up the mantle and will face off against Conservative Peng You, the NDP's Lise Vaugeois and a yet-to-be-named Liberal candidate in the wake of incumbent Michael Gravelle's announcement Monday that he won't seek re-election because of health concerns.
Gravelle is the only candidate who has ever won the riding, which was created in the 1999 election.
In Kenora-Rainy River, Catherine Kiewning will go up against powerhouse Conservative cabinet minister Greg Rickford. Neither the Liberals nor the NDP have yet named candidates in Kenora-Rainy River.
Suzette Foster will carry the Green Party banner in Kiiwetinoong, where NDP incumbent Sol Mamakwa and Conservative Dwight Monck are also on the ballot.
The Ontario election is scheduled for June 2, with the campaign expected to officially begin on May 4.
