Oosterhoff wins Niagara West-Glanbrook byelection

Niagara-News.com — 11/18/16

By JOHN HOPKINS-HILL
Staff Writer

It was a familiar result, but with an unfamiliar winner.

Progressive Conservative candidate Sam Oosterhoff, 19, was elected to serve as the new MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook after a byelection on Nov. 17. Oosterhoff won the election with well over 50 per cent of the vote.

Oosterhoff has come under scrutiny over both his age and his conservative views on issues like abortion and sex education.

PC leader Patrick Brown spoke before Oosterhoff and stated he felt that the Liberals resorted to a “smear campaign” against Oosterhoff, but that Oosterhoff stuck to the issues.

“Tonight Niagara West-Glanbrook voters sent a message to the government: they’re tired of their hydro rates going up,” said Brown. “They’re tired of a government that has let down people in the healthcare sector.”

In his acceptance speech, Oosterhoff thanked his campaign volunteers and the constituents, but largely stuck to his campaign message of lowering hydro rates and bringing jobs to Niagara.

“People are fed up. People have had enough to soaring hydro rates. People have had enough of soaring hydro rates. People have had enough of losing over 350,000 manufacturing jobs in Ontario alone.”

When asked about potential conflicts with party leadership, Oosterhoff declined to answer, stating, “that’s a hypothetical question.”

Dean Allison, the Conservative MP for Niagara West, said he wasn’t surprised Oosterhoff was elected based on the response he saw while campaigning in the riding.

“The response we got at the doors was fairly positive and I think people recognize this young man has a great work ethic and that he works hard.”

Oosterhoff is the youngest MPP ever elected in Ontario at just 19 years old and takes the seat long held by former PC leader Tim Hudak, who was first elected in 1995.

Ontario NDP candidate Mike Thomas finished a distant second, with just under 25 per cent of the vote.