Polls suggests Ford PCs vulnerable in ridings without incumbents

Riding polls in Sault Ste. Marie and Toronto's York South-Weston, where PC MPPs aren't running again, show NDP candidates in striking distance.

Two ridings won by the PCs in 2022 but where the incumbent MPP isn’t running in 2025 face opposition pressure, according to EKOS Research polls completed in partnership with Impact Strategies.

The riding polls were completed Wednesday, commissioned by the Ontario Federation of Labour.

In Sault Ste. Marie, where PC MPP Ross Romano isn’t running again, the PCs are at 32 per cent support, well down from the 47 per cent in 2022, with the NDP and Liberals both at 27 per cent.

Health care concern up, PC support down in Sault Ste. Marie

Over 10,000 people in Sault Ste. Marie recently lost their primary health care when the world-class Group Health Centre shut down. The poll shows health care is the top issue for 40 per cent.

The PCs in Sault Ste. Marie also face controversy over their “parachute” candidate from Toronto appointed by Doug Ford.

The NDP has nominated city councillor Lisa Vezeau-Allen. The Liberals, who received 6 per cent support in 2022, are yet to announce a candidate.

York South-Weston PCs face NDP challenge, with no Ford on signs or ballot

Doug Ford’s nephew Michael Ford isn’t running again in York South-Weston, where NDP candidate Faisal Hassan, MPP from 2018 to 2022, is within striking distance, according to the EKOS/Impact Strategies poll.

In the eight elections since the riding was created in 1999, the PCs never won the seat until the Ford family name was on the signs and ballots. In six of those eight contests, the PCs ran third.

Michael Ford won narrowly with 37 per cent support in 2022. Today’s poll shows the PCs at 36 per cent, NDP at 32 per cent and Liberals at 27 per cent.

In September, Michael Ford made public he was taking a “leave of absence” to address his health and well-being. A week before the election call he announced he would not run again.

Against former NDP MPP Hassan the PCs have nominated Mohamed Firin. The Liberals have nominated Daniel Di Georgio.