The NDP candidate for Bruce-Grey Owen Sound in the upcoming provincial election has been decided.
At a packed nomination meeting in Owen Sound on Monday — jail guard and local OPSEU President member Paul Johnstone got the nod.
He ran against Karen Gventer — a program assistant at the Grey Bruce Health Unit who also had a strong showing during May’s federal election run as she finished second.
Johnstone has been front and centre during the “Save Our Jails” campaign — fighting against the proposed closures of the Owen Sound and Walkerton jails.
Johnstone tells Bayshore Broadcasting News he’s thrilled to have the opportunity to further the jail campaign at Queen’s Park — should he win the riding.
He feels the Bruce-Grey Owen Sound riding is wide open — especially with the upcoming retirement of current Conservative MPP Bill Murdoch.
Johnstone relates that he will also fight to save and create jobs in Grey-Bruce.
Johnstone ran during the 2007 Ontario election and finished fourth in Bruce Grey Owen Sound.
Gventner, meanwhile says she will now shift her focus to supporting Johnstone’s campaign.
Also at Monday night’s meeting was longtime Welland New Democrat MPP Peter Kormos who spoke passionately about the continued growth and values of the NDP.
