New Democrats in Timiskaming-Cochrane have nominated John Vanthof as their candidate for the next provincial election.
Ontario’s fixed-election-date law mandates that the election be held in June 2026, but Premier Doug Ford has hinted about making an early call.
MPP Vanthof currently serves as the critic for Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent the people of Timiskaming-Cochrane,” said Vanthof in a news release. “I have seen first-hand the challenges our northern communities face and how they have been shortchanged by those in the halls of power.
"From losing farmland to unsafe highways, to lack of proper services, our communities are being left behind. Rural and northern communities are sick and tired of being taken for granted by government after government. As a farmer, a northerner, and a New Democrat, I will never shy away from the fight to give people the life they deserve, because it’s time for better.”
"Vanthof has led the fight to keep his constituents safe on northern highways, improving winter maintenance, and built a focus on better infrastructure that keeps up with increased commercial traffic in the region," says the release.
“John is a fighter not only for his community but for farmers and northern communities across Ontario,” said Marit Stiles, Ontario NDP leader. “Northern Ontario deserves a government that treats them with respect and finally gives them their fair share. At a time when we are seeing northern highways get more and more unsafe, losing more farmland than ever, seeing a real threat to the province’s food security, and seeing government after government take northerners for granted, we need voices like John’s to keep fighting for the future we deserve.”
Vanthof has been a strong advocate for rural communities, leading the fight at Queen’s Park for better services like health care, housing, groceries people can afford, emergency services, and more
