Hastings—Lennox and Addington

Hastings—Lennox and Addington is a large rural riding in eastern Ontario stretching north from Lake Ontario through the communities of Amherstview, Napanee, Tweed, and Bancroft. The seat was held by Progressive Conservative Daryl Kramp, who had served in various levels of government for two decades — first as a federal Conservative MP and then, from 2018, as a provincial MPP. Kramp announced his retirement in February 2022, citing health and family reasons. The riding's population of approximately 106,000 skews older than the provincial average, with lower-than-average incomes and a heavily rural character. The 2022 contest also attracted Derek Sloan, the former federal Conservative MP who had been expelled from the party's caucus in January 2021 and subsequently became leader of the Ontario Party.

Candidates

Ric Bresee (Progressive Conservative) — Born and raised in Amherstview, Bresee graduated from St. Lawrence College as a Business Systems Analyst and spent nearly two decades working at the college as a systems analyst, adaptive technologist, and part-time instructor. He served on Loyalist Township council for 22 years, including terms as councillor, deputy mayor, and mayor, during which he facilitated the development of the Loyalist East Business Park, which added 21 new businesses.

Eric DePoe (NDP) — A paralegal and entrepreneur, DePoe had worked for Canada Post for 28 years and ran the Waterfall Café in Yarker for 17 years. At his paralegal practice, he represented union and non-union workers with workplace safety and insurance claims. He also served as a local union leader.

Ted Darby (Liberal) — A health care executive, Darby holds a Master of Health Science from the University of Toronto and held executive leadership positions at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, North York General Hospital, Mattawa General Hospital, and most recently as joint Vice-President for Providence Care and Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

Derek Sloan (Ontario Party) — A lawyer and the leader of the Ontario Party, Sloan had previously served as the federal Conservative MP for Hastings—Lennox and Addington before being expelled from the Conservative caucus in January 2021. He became leader of the Ontario Party in December 2021 and ran on a platform focused on accountability for pandemic-era restrictions and civil liberties.

Minor candidates included Christina Wilson (Green Party) and Joyce Reid (New Blue Party).

Local Issues

Rural health care was the foremost local concern. The riding suffered from a shortage of family physicians, with residents in smaller communities like Bancroft and Tweed facing long drives to access basic medical services. Candidates across party lines acknowledged the need for more doctors and improved health care infrastructure. Ted Darby, a health care executive himself, made investment in rural health services a centrepiece of his campaign.

Broadband and cellular connectivity was another pressing infrastructure issue. Many parts of the riding lacked reliable high-speed internet, a gap that became acutely felt during the pandemic as schools moved online and businesses attempted to operate remotely. The provincial government had announced broadband expansion programs, but candidates noted that deployment had been slow and coverage remained patchy in the riding's more remote communities, particularly in northern Hastings County.

The contest between Ric Bresee and Derek Sloan highlighted a fissure on the political right. Sloan positioned the Ontario Party as a home for voters who felt the Progressive Conservatives had governed too far from conservative principles, particularly on pandemic-related mandates and restrictions. This dynamic raised questions about potential vote-splitting in a riding that had consistently elected centre-right candidates, though Bresee's deep roots in local municipal politics and Kramp's endorsement positioned him as the candidate of continuity.