The Early Bird – Federal Liberals Nominate Foxton in Lanark-Frontenac

Jeff Green | Jul 24, 2024

While there has been rampant speculation about an election in Ontario as early as this fall, (November is the month that is being floated) the Trudeau government in Ottawa may wait up to another year before facing the electorate.

It is all about re-election prospects. The Ford government is barely two years into its 4 year mandate with a majority government, and enjoys a 14 point lead over the 2nd place Ontario Liberals, but his advisors seem to think those numbers may not persist, and want to nail down another majority sooner than later.

The Federal Liberal government is a minority government requiring support from the NDP to remain in power, and is at the end of the third year of its mandate. But they are polling 18 points less than the Conservatives currently, so the idea of hanging on for a full four years and a couple of months before facing the electorate is a likely scenario.

Nonetheless, it is the federal Liberal riding association in what will be a new riding, Frontenac Lanark, that has named its candidate for the next election. Michelle Foxton was the candidate in the Lanark Frontenac Kingston riding in 2021, and she will run again whenever a federal election is called.

In 2021, Foxton received 26% of the vote in the riding, and the long-term incumbent, Scott Reid was just shy of 50%. The new Lanark-Frontenac riding is, if anything, an even safer Conservative seat; the suburban Kingston sections of the current riding are no longer included. Indeed based on current polling, the projection is that if Reid runs again he would get up to 60% of the vote in Lanark-Frontenac if the election were held today.

So, why has Michelle Foxton jumped in the race, and why so early.

On her newly minted election website, she addresses that question, with specific reference to Scott Reid.

“Our riding deserves a Member of Parliament who actively listens and always has time to sit down with residents and hear their concerns. Lanark–Frontenac deserves more than a part-time, career politician. It deserves someone who cares enough to ask what the needs of residents are and then to fight for them; to give residents the respect and dedication they deserve.”

The assertion that Reid is a part-time politician is based on the fact that in addition to being an MP, which he has been since 2000, Scott is the chair of the company that his late father Gordon founded in 1960, Giant Tiger.

Scott Reid took over as Board Chair at Giant Tiger in 2020. While not involved in the day-to-day operations of the company, Reid has acknowledged that the role of board chair requires a time commitment. In 2023 he said, in a blog post dealing with how he manages to be both an MP and the Board Chair of a company with annual sales of $2 billion and 10,000 employees, that he spends approximately one day a week on his Giant Tiger role when the house is in session.

He said that because he lives close to Ottawa, he saves commuting time back to his riding as compared to most other MPs. He also said that he does not do partisan party work in his riding like most other MP’s do.

When Parliament is not in session, which was about 28 weeks in 2023, or example, he is more involved with Giant Tiger.

“On weeks when the House of Commons is not sitting, I can devote a greater amount of time to Giant Tiger, although how much time varies, depending upon a variety of considerations,” he said..

None of this impresses Michelle Foxton, who is starting her campaign early by going after Scott Reid’s record.

“I may be an underdog, but I am not a fence post. I know how to get things done. My municipal and legal experience are extensive and have taught me how to connect and relate on a personal level. I have deep family roots in this riding and while I appreciate the stability that comes with keeping things the same, I also believe our residents know when they are paying for something but getting little in return. After more than 20 years of the same representative, with no effective rural voice in Ottawa, I believe I can make a difference.”

She has also posted a YouTube video, in which she characterises Scott Reid as a “Grocery Store Chairman” who is working to elect Pierre Poilievre who will bring in “tax cuts for his rich friends”. She said Reid has voted against measures aimed at making life more affordable for middle and lower income electors in Lanark-Frontenac.

Michele Foxton served one term on South Frontenac Council, immediately after municipal amalgamation. She is a lawyer with an office in Kingston, and she is married to Wade Leonard, an award-winning teacher at Granite Ridge Education Centre, who kickstarted a drone program at the school. The couple have two children.

Since the 2021 election ended, she has remained politically active, attending public events throughout the riding consistently,as an individual and a representative of the riding association.