When Aggie Mlynarz was first interviewed by media after securing the NDP candidacy for Guelph, she called herself the wild card in the riding. By placing third locally in Thursday’s provincial she exceeded the expectations of many, building the party support substantially from its 2014 result.
Despite the loss, the 13,928 votes Mlynarz finished with on Thursday is an impressive uptick in support for the local NDP, which finished fourth place finish in the 2014 provincial election with 9,385 votes.
Mlynarz’s supporters, friends and family gathered Thursday at NV Kitchen and Bar on Wyndham Street as the ballots were being counted. Mlynarz arrived to cheers after the riding had been called in Green Party leader Mike Schreiner’s favour.
Mlynarz once worked at NV before stepping down shortly after receiving the party’s nomination.
Upon her arrival, Mlynarz told her supporters the results — locally and provincially — were not what what they had hoped for, as Doug Ford’s PC party will rule with a majority government.
“We have to, over the next four years, stay true to our values,” said Mlynarz. “Stay true to what gives us the spirit of the NDP. Stay true to what really matters, what makes us people, what makes us caring individuals — because it’s going to be a hard four years and it’s going to be an uncertain four years because that’s what Doug Ford has presented us with in the last four weeks.”
NDP party leader Andrea Horwath made two visits to Guelph late in the campaign to support Mlynarz, most recently on June 5. In a press release issued earlier that day, Mlynarz said a vote for Green Party leader and fellow Guelph candidate Mike Schreiner would be a vote for a Doug Ford Ontario PC government.
That messaging seemed to resonate with local voters, resulting in the strong showing for Mlynarz — but it was not enough to secure the win.
Mlynarz promised the crowd she isn’t going anywhere.
“Tonight, I challenge you to not go anywhere as well,” she said to her supporters.
A member of the crowd called out for Mlynarz to run for city council. Another said she should run for mayor.
Asked later by GuephToday about the prospect of running municipally, Mlynarz said, “who knows? It’s an exciting prospect.”
Mlynarz said she is very proud of the work of her team, especially Shayne Ward, Cindy Collins and campaign manager Sarah Manns.
She was also proud of her own performance in the hard-fought campaign.
“I believe I made a positive impact to this community. I still believe that stepping up and running at my age and in my position was inspirational to some. There is a lot of comfort in that. I am very proud,” she said.
Mlynarz said she worries about cuts to the funding of programs and organizations in the community, including community health centres, libraries and Hope House.
“As progressives we need to come together and be strong and ensure those things remain strong in our community for the folk who rely on them the most,” she said.
Mlynarz noted there were no tears in the room in the face of the loss.
“I believe it’s that progressive attitude of knowing we will have to come together and keep pushing,” she told GuelphToday.
Mlynarz said she twice attempted to call Schreiner to concede prior to appearing before her supporters.
“He’s a little busy. I am sure we will talk,” she said.
Andrew Seagram ran for the NDP in the last federal election and was among the supporters at NV on Thursday night. He said Mlynarz's campaign was one of youthful energy.
“The campaign was run really well. It was a real youth-driven campaign based on social justice and all of those things an NDP campaign should be about,” said Seagram.
The NDP in Guelph is stronger as a result of the campaign, said Seagram.
“I am incredibly proud of the campaign and Aggie will be back to fight another day,” he said.
Mlynarz publicly announced her intention to run as the NDP candidate in Guelph on March 16 and won the party’s nomination on April 22.
She stood for the party’s local nomination alongside Andrew Bascombe and Mike Foley, but won that contest on the first ballot.
Guelph hasn't elected an NDP MPP since 1990, when Derek Fletcher took the riding, then known as Guelph—Wellington.
In her parting words to supporters, Mlynarz said the NDP did bring change for the better in this election.
“For the next four years, we have to remain as strong and as vigilant as possible,” said Mlynarz, adding: “we’ll be okay.”
