Hall takes comfort in Liberal majority
By MARK PAVILONS Editor

Betsy Hall thanked her volunteers at her election night gathering at Bolton's Main Street Station.

Betsy Hall takes comfort in the fact the province's public education and health care systems are "safe," following the historic Liberal majority win in last Wednesday's 39th provincial election.

While the Liberal candidate in Dufferin-Peel didn't share in her colleagues' victories, she was pleased with her efforts and her campaign team in the riding.

Predictions of a Liberal majority came shortly after the polls closed at 9 p.m. election night, and the trend (and margin) grew as the night went on. The loudest cheers at the Bolton Liberal gathering at Main Street Station, came at shortly after 10 p.m. when it was announced that Conservative Leader John Tory lost his seat in the Toronto riding of Don Valley West. Liberal education minister Kathleen Wynne garnered 23,069 votes (50.4%) to Tory's 18,136 (39.7%).

Locally, Hall finished second to Conservative Sylvia Jones, the riding's new MPP-elect. Hall earned 12,636 votes or 32%. She actually fared much better than her predecessor, Dan Yake, who earned 14,859 votes (28.8%) in the 2003 election. Voter turnout this year was a record-low of roughly 50%.

"I'm happy to see Ontario is back in good hands," Hall said. Public education and public health are both safe."

During her speech to a small but vocal crowd of Liberal supporters at Main Street Station, Hall said she owed a tremendous debt of gratitude to her team. She referred to their efforts as the "best campaign in the riding," and she extended heartfelt thanks to the tireless volunteers, family members and her husband.

She said she tried not to set her sights on victory, but merely put her head down and worked hard on the campaign trail. The biggest issues at the doors in and around Bolton were transportation, traffic and dangers of Regional Road 50. As well, the matter of education funding, brought to the forefront by the Conservatives, was a hot topic for debate. The need for more local physicians and a tertiary care centre were also noted during the hustings.

She said she was not surprised to see Tory lose his seat, reaffirming the triumph of public education in a very symbolic way.

Hall said she went into the campaign with respect for Dufferin-Peel voters and came away with a deeper respect for citizens. She was very pleased by the reception by voters, particularly in Bolton.

"Bolton has been ignored too long," she said, adding that was a reason why they chose it as their campaign office location.

The election also saw Ontario's first referendum on the electoral system. Voters overwhelmingly (64.1%) rejected Mixed Member Proportional system.

Hall said the government will continue to talk about democratic renewal, but believes the MPP as presented, wasn't the right system for Ontario. She did laud the efforts of the citizens' committee and the process that led to the recommendations.

As for her political future, Hall didn't want to speculate that far ahead.