The byelection writ dropped Wednesday by the Liberal government might as well have been a starter’s pistol for Percy Hatfield.
Once the five Ontario byelections were officially set for Aug. 1 — triggering a rare summer election — the NDP candidate in Windsor-Tecumseh was knocking signs into lawns within a couple of hours.
Hatfield and a campaign staff member erected several NDP signs along Tourangeau Road before moving on to Balfour Boulevard.
“I go to the door and knock and introduce myself and say I’m running for the NDP and ask if they have any questions,” said Hatfield, who then asks if the voter would consider supporting the NDP and whether they would allow a sign on their front lawn.
He said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath “has proven she can get results.”
Hatfield said by supporting the Liberal government of Kathleen Wynne, Horwath was able to get such things as a maximum wait time of five days for those moving from hospital to home care, 15 per cent off auto insurance and incentives for hiring young people.
Ed Easter, 21, a sport management student at Lambton College in Sarnia, said he was glad to have a politician put out the effort to meet with him at his home on Balfour.
“About a month ago he came to the door and we spoke,” Easter said. “I’ve never really been interested in politics. But he’s the one who actually came to my house and seems interested, so that’s why I’ll vote for him.”
Chrysler retiree Larry Morency said much the same thing about Hatfield’s visit.
“I thought it was actually pretty nice of him,” Morency said. “I’m going to vote for Percy, for sure.”
Hatfield, 65, a CBC journalist for 30-plus years, also discussed the Liberal gas plant contracts, which cost about $600 million to cancel. It’s the same attack the Conservatives under Tim Hudak have used — only the PCs suggest that the NDP is in cahoots with the Liberals by supporting the budget.
“The Liberals continue to manipulate voters by refusing to call a non-confidence vote on the gas plants, spending $1 billion of taxpayer money to buy support from the NDP, and now by trying to escape voters prior to a long weekend,” according to a Conservative press release issued Wednesday.
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a provincial byelection debate for Windsor-Tecumseh at 8:30 a.m., July 18 at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave. Hatfield will square off against Conservative candidate Robert de Verteuil, an auto manufacturing consultant, and Liberal candidate Jeewen Gill, a mortgage and real estate broker.
The half-hour debate, sponsored by Media Street, will be broadcast live by TVCogeco and live-streamed at Windsorstar.com. Tickets are $10 for members and $15 general admission through windsorchamber.org.
