Dryden

Early data from Elections Ontario suggests that voter turnout has hit a historic low.

Province-wide voter turnout hit 43.03 per cent, down 13.97 per cent from the 2018 election, with 7,990 of 8,072 polling stations reporting.

This is lower than any previous election in the province's history.

Voter turnout in Kenora-Rainy River and Kiiwetinoong took a hit as well.

In Kenora-Rainy River, voter turnout was down 15.76 per cent from 54.12 per cent in 2018 to 38.36 per cent last night.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged a person for drug trafficking in the City of Kenora.

On Sunday May 29, 2022 at approximately 7:39 p.m. Police arrested a person on Matheson Street in the City of Kenora for an unrelated matter. As a result of the arrest police located cash, drug paraphernalia, weapons and approximately $3000 in suspected Methamphetamine.

Police have charged 21-year-old Kassandra Morrison of Kenora with the following charges under the Criminal Code (CC) and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).

Candidates have until midnight to secure party memberships for their supporters to vote in the election for the next Conservative leader, who will replace Erin O'Toole. 

The deadline marks a major milestone in the campaign and the start of a new phase in the race.

The party's leadership election organizing committee said late last month it had already broken records for how many new members candidates have drawn in ahead of the June 3 cutoff.

Kenora Rainy-River MPP Greg Rickford is thanking his supporters across northwestern Ontario after being re-elected in the region during Election Night 2022.

Rickford joined supporters at Bob’s Burgers on Main Street in downtown Kenora after results were announced, where Rickford dominated the local polls with a roughly 5,000 vote lead.

Sol Mamakwa has been re-elected as the MPP for the northern Kiiwetinoong riding.

The Kingfisher Lake First Nation member first joined provincial politics in 2018 after working as an executive with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority.

He has repeatedly called on the majority Progressive Conservatives throughout his career to improve reconciliation efforts with Indigenous communities, support for healthcare in the far north, stop unlawful work on treaty territories and pushed forward work for clean water projects across his riding.

Greg Rickford has been re-elected in Kenora-Rainy River.

Rickford first joined provincial politics in 2018, but he had previously served as a federal MP under Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, first elected in 2008. He was later re-elected in the 2011 election and served under the Ministry of Indian Affairs and the Ministry of Northern Development.

The Liberal candidate in the 2022 Provincial Election, Anthony Leek, is congratulating MPP Greg Rickford on his win tonight and thanked residents for their support during his campaign.

“Congratulations to Greg. He’s a hard worker out there. Kudos to him, and hopefully he can get things done over the next four years,” said Leek, in an interview with Q104, KenoraOnline and DrydenNow after results were announced.

Provincial media has declared that Conservative Doug Ford is predicted to form a majority government in Ontario.

Ford fought through a difficult first year as Premier among public service cuts in healthcare in education spending, but his leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic rebounded public opinions in a trying time for the province.

Ford is expected to address the public later tonight. The NDP will form the Official Opposition but leader Andrea Horwath says she plans to step down, while the Liberal party placed third.

Provincial, Kenora-Rainy River Riding, Kiiwetinoong Riding results as of 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2022, and updated results will be posted Friday morning. 

Provincial Seat Count - 63 seats needed for a majority: 

Progressive Conservative -  83 seats

New Democratic - 31 seats

Two polling stations in the Kiiwetinoong riding are among 27 polling stations across Ontario that will be open later than 8 p.m.

Kiiwetinoong poll 19 will now closed at 10 p.m., while Kiiwetinoong poll 28 will now close at 8:30 p.m.

Results are the Kiiwetinoong won't be released until 10 p.m.

As of publishing, there are no reported delays in the Kenora-Rainy River riding.