Caroline Mulroney is the next MPP for York-Simcoe.
As of 11:50 p.m., Mulroney had more than 57 per cent of the vote with 23,998 ballots cast in her favour.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” said Mulroney to a cheering crowd at the Silver Lakes Golf and Country Club in East Gwillimbury.
“Tonight’s victory does not belong to me alone. It belongs to every person in Ontario who cast a ballot. It belong to the dreamers. You believed our province could do better and be better.”
Mulroney thanked her family and campaign team for their support, and she reiterated her commitment to advocate for building the Highway 400-404 connecting link.
“I won’t shy away from something just because it’s hard,” she said. “I promise to always listen to your concerns. I promise to always stand up for what you need and deserve.”
Her father, former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, said he felt great about the election results.
“It’s challenging for the first campaign. We were hopeful but you never know,” he said. “I hope she’s off on a wonderful career.”
Caroline Mulroney said it was “very meaningful” to have her father there to help her celebrate her win.
“I never … imagined I would be able to share something like this with him. It was surreal, in a way, but it was wonderful.”
The results for York-Simcoe were delayed because some polls stayed open past 11 p.m. in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
This was to make up for some polling stations temporarily closing down in the afternoon while a police search took place for a Barrie shooting suspect. Chris Hadfield Public School, St. Angela Merici Catholic School, and W.H. Day Elementary School, two of which were polling stations, were all under a hold and secure. All of them were lifted when the suspect was arrested around 3 p.m.
Mulroney gained strong support throughout York-Simcoe, including from outgoing MPP Julia Munro, who is the longest-serving woman MPP in Ontario’s history.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Munro, who retired this year. “Obviously I’m very, very happy for Caroline. She worked very, very hard.”
Buoyed by the PC surge in election results, Munro said the party is “being organized and united. It’s a new day for Ontario.”
Mulroney’s campaign focused on lowering hydro rates and making life more affordable for York-Simcoe residents.
In a recent Q&A with BradfordToday, she said her first priorities, if elected, would be seeing the Highway 400-404 connecting link built, health care services that meet the needs of a growing community, and lowering taxes.
“Caroline has worked very, very hard. The people in this community have embraced her,” said York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan, who attended Mulroney’s election night party.
He called Ontario Progressive Conservatives Leader Doug Ford’s majority win a “very good result.”
“The people have spoken loudly for change,” he said.
York-Simcoe NDP candidate David Szollosy placed second behind Mulroney.
He and about 30 of his campaign team members gathered at Wild Bill's Bistro in Keswick for election night.
“We built a unit here that really is the riding," with supporters from all areas, from Keswick to Bradford, he said.
“We started a bit harsh and a bit late to get going, but the fact that... people came together to be part of the team, (they) have done a great job, a marvellous job.”
The NDP focused on issues that included the health of Lake Simcoe and the Thane smelter cleanup.
“We will certainly hold (the PC government) to account,” Szollosy said. “It's really clear the people of Ontario want change. I just hope it's responsible change that helps the people of the province."
As the numbers came in showing a PC victory, Liberal candidate Loralea Carruthers said she was speechless.
”It’s going to take some time to digest this. It's hard to see so many good people going down. So many worked so hard to make Ontario a great place."
Still, she said, she is not as affected as she thought she would be because she has been "surrounded by excellent people — family, friends, volunteers."
Carruthers said she has a strong belief in what Kathleen Wynne has accomplished as Ontario’s premier, but she acknowledged many people told her, “I like you, but I don’t like your leader.”
Carruthers, who narrowly lost to Munro in the last provincial election, campaigned on the fact she lives locally and, therefore, understands the most important issues in York-Simcoe.
She was the first York-Simcoe candidate to publicly commit to the building of the Highway 400-404 connecting link, and she pledged to bring four new schools and a South Simcoe hospital campus to Bradford West Gwillimbury.
"We worked so much harder this time,” said Carruthers. “We had top-notch people working on my campaign — so many volunteers, such energy. They were determined.”
– with files from Miriam King
