Karen McCrimmon Wins Provincial Byelection in Kanata–Carleton, Replacing Former PC MPP Merrilee Fullerton

Liberal candidate emerges victorious in closely contested race, aiming to address healthcare challenges in the province.

Kanata–Carleton, Liberal candidate Karen McCrimmon has secured victory in the provincial byelection for Kanata–Carleton, stepping into the role previously held by former Progressive Conservative MPP Merrilee Fullerton. The unofficial results, posted Thursday evening, reveal McCrimmon's win, earning 34% of the vote share, in a race contested by six candidates.

McCrimmon's triumph comes after Fullerton's sudden resignation from both her seat and position as Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services in March. The newly elected MPP expressed her determination to tackle the province's shortage of family doctors.

With all polls now reporting, McCrimmon garnered 11,066 votes, edging out the second-place Progressive Conservative candidate Sean Webster, who secured 10,415 votes, approximately 32% of the vote share. NDP candidate Melissa Coenraad came in third with 9,560 votes, representing nearly 29% of the vote share.

A familiar face in politics, McCrimmon previously represented Kanata–Carleton at the federal level from 2015 to 2021, opting not to run for re-election in 2021 due to minor health concerns and family matters, as she disclosed in an interview with CBC News.

The newly-elected MPP brings a diverse background to the position, having served as a senior staff officer at the NATO Air Headquarters during her time in the Canadian Armed Forces and participating in a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2004.

Kanata–Carleton, a provincial riding in rural west Ottawa and the suburb of Kanata, has a population of 110,965 and was home to 88,936 registered voters during the 2022 election. Historically, the riding has remained under the Progressive Conservatives' control for decades, and Fullerton secured more than 43% of the vote in the 2022 provincial election.

As the results are unofficial, Elections Ontario will release official results and voter turnout figures once certified by a provincial election clerk. However, current estimates suggest a voter turnout of approximately 35%.

McCrimmon's election signifies a potential shift in representation for Kanata–Carleton, and residents anticipate her proactive approach to address the region's pressing healthcare concerns.