Residents of Oxford County will be heading to the voting booth next month to elect a new Member of Parliament.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the byelection Sunday, one of four that will occur next month in Canada.
In Oxford, the byelection was necessitated by Conservative MP Dave MacKenzie stepping down in January. Since stepping down, the longtime Conservative has taken the rare position of endorsing a potential candidate from a different political party.
Last month, MacKenzie turned heads after endorsing David Hilderley, who was confirmed as the Liberal nominee Monday evening In backing a rival Liberal, MacKenzie cited concerns over the Conservatives’ controversial nomination process.
Arpan Khanna, who defeated two other candidates, including MacKenzie’s daughter, served as Ontario co-chair for Poilievre’s successful leadership campaign. Immediately after he won in March, two Conservative riding association leaders in the riding resigned. Khanna ran unsuccessfully for the Tories in Brampton in 2019.
While saying he is disappointed in MacKenzie backing a rival party candidate, Khanna tells Global News he is excited for the campaign to finally get underway.
“People in the community just want someone who is going to fight for our community, fight for our values,” said Khanna, a Woodstock resident who works as a lawyer.
“I think it’s about time we have somebody in Oxford who’s willing to put the work in and take nothing for granted.”
Khanna says some of the most significant issues he wants to help tackle if elected include supporting farmers, protecting lawful gun owners and addressing the cost of living.
Hilderley, the Liberal candidate, says he does not take the endorsement from former MP MacKenzie lightly.
“People have to be aware of the fact that that would not have been an easy decision for Dave MacKenzie because he is throwing his support behind a different party,” said Hilderley, an educator for 34 years and realtor for the past 17 years.
“MacKenzie cares about Oxford County and proper Oxford representation in Ottawa.”
Despite the riding remaining blue for almost two decades, Hilderley added he thinks the race will be competitive.
“The message that I’m receiving from very many Conservatives that I’ve known for decades is that now with the situation being told who they should vote for, they are not very happy and they are either going to throw their support behind another candidate or not vote this time,” said Hilderley.
Some of the main issues Hilderley says he would want to focus on if elected are ensuring the protection of farmland and community safety.
Last month, the NDP selected Cody Groat in a less acrimonious nomination selection. A Western University professor and a Mohawk and band member of the Six Nations of the Grand River, Groat tells Global News that when MacKenzie retired, he saw an opportunity to put forth a more progressive and contemporary message to the residents of Oxford.
“One thing I’m hearing a lot at the door… is that people are getting really tired of the divisiveness that exists within politics, especially within politics here in Oxford County,” said Groat.
The 28-year-old noted the more harmonious NDP nominee process, adding that he believes it is a good sign for the campaign.
“We have a really strong, unified message and we are ready to continue advocating that message into the byelection.”
Among the issues he wants to face should he be elected, Groat says his focus would be on supporting the automotive and agriculture industries in Oxford.
The Green Party will be announcing their nominee on Wednesday.
The byelection is scheduled for June 19, with early voting from June 9-12.
— with files from Global’s Aaron D’Andrea