The NDP will now serve as the orange lining to the blue cloud.
That was the upside Simcoe North NDP candidate Elizabeth Van Houtte saw Thursday in her loss to the Progressive Conservative Jill Dunlop.
“Andrea Horwath is an incredible leader,” said Van Houtte. “She is not going to let Mr. Ford be unchecked in any way or form.”
Dunlop has no political experience, other than having followed her father for years, yet people voted her in, Van Houtte said.
Where voters wouldn’t change their inclinations before the election, Van Houtte said, they may do so in the next few years when they don't have hospital care, when students can't get jobs and afford a home, and when people are going to have to choose between keeping the lights on and buying food.
“We have people who are so beaten down already, they don't think they can make a change,” said Van Houtte.
But the NDP is ready to put up a fight.
“We will not let anything go that is going to be detrimental to the people of Ontario,” she said.
Van Houtte said she was happy to see a majority of the NDP incumbents had been re-elected.
“This shows you that once you get an NDP MPP, people know what that does for the riding,” she said.
After a majority of the results had come in Thursday, she joined her friends, family and supporters at Lake Country Grill in Orillia. Van Houtte shed tears and hugged those present.
"My tears are not tears because we didn't win," she said, talking to the crowd. "They are because I'm really, really concerned about our next government.
"We fought for people to have a really good life,” Van Houtte added. “And they've just elected a party that had no platform and wasn't costed. If you're not scared right now, you should be."
Still, she has hope in her party leader.
“(Horwath) held Wynne's feet to the fire for the last four years and she will be even more ferocious with Mr. Ford,” said Van Houtte. “Because we're a party of the people, and she's the Official Opposition, and I couldn't be more proud.”
She also praised her team and thanked the volunteers for their time and support.
“I couldn't be more proud of our team that was behind us,” said Van Houtte. “We will continue to fight for health care, education and public safety. We don't know where the cuts are going to come, but we need to be vigilant and pay attention to how this will affect all of us.”
As for taking another run for the Simcoe North seat, she said it was too far ahead to make a commitment.
“But I'm not going to stop fighting when it comes to the well-being and quality of life of people in this area,” said Van Houtte. “So, you will see me in whatever shape and form it is to hold Ms. Dunlop accountable for what happens here to the people of Simcoe North.”
