Simcoe—Grey

Simcoe—Grey is an expansive riding in central Ontario stretching from Georgian Bay south through the Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview, Springwater, Essa, New Tecumseth, and Adjala-Tosorontio. With an area of roughly 1,950 square kilometres, it blends resort and retirement communities with farming hamlets and fast-growing commuter towns. Progressive Conservative MPP Brian Saunderson had won the seat in 2022 after longtime incumbent Jim Wilson left politics. During his first term, Saunderson served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General and positioned himself as an advocate for the riding’s infrastructure and healthcare needs. He sought a second term in 2025 with a strong incumbency advantage in a riding that has reliably elected Conservative members for decades.

Candidates

Brian Saunderson (Progressive Conservative) — A former Olympic rower who competed at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, Saunderson practised civil litigation, real estate, and corporate law for more than two decades and taught business law ethics at Georgian College. He served as mayor of Collingwood from 2018 to 2022 before winning the provincial seat. He is the son of former MPP Bill Saunderson.

Ted Crysler (Liberal) — Born and raised in Collingwood and Wasaga Beach, Crysler holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Carleton University and a law degree from the University of Toronto. He built a 25-year legal career in technology and corporate law and runs his own practice. He served as executive vice-president of the Ontario Liberal Party’s rural and northern commission. This was his second consecutive campaign in Simcoe—Grey.

Benten Tinkler (NDP) — A University of Toronto graduate who works in non-profit fundraising, Tinkler is a disability rights advocate who has campaigned on accessibility issues. She ran on a platform emphasizing affordable housing, rent control, and shorter healthcare wait times.

Allan Kuhn (Green Party) and David Ghobrial (New Blue Party) also ran.

Local Issues

The housing affordability crisis intensified in Simcoe—Grey over the 2022–2025 term. Collingwood and Wasaga Beach remained among Ontario’s fastest-growing communities, and Simcoe County ranked among the highest living-wage regions in the province. Average home prices in the county hovered near $840,000 by mid-2024, far beyond what median household incomes could support. Homelessness grew more visible in communities historically associated with tourism and retirement, prompting the County of Simcoe to pursue a transitional modular housing program for Collingwood and Wasaga Beach. Saunderson used his role as MPP to push the province to recognize infrastructure and affordability needs beyond the Highway 9 corridor.

Healthcare and seniors’ care were closely linked concerns. The riding’s large retiree population placed heavy demand on long-term care beds and home care services, and the shortage of family physicians in rural Simcoe County meant that residents in smaller communities often faced long drives for medical appointments. Wasaga Beach made progress during the term by reopening a town-operated medical centre and after-hours clinic and attracting two new physicians, but access remained uneven across the riding.

Infrastructure and growth management remained prominent themes. The provincial government announced a $59.3-million investment in a second high school for Wasaga Beach to keep pace with population growth. Residents in several communities continued to raise concerns about the capacity of stormwater, road, and wastewater infrastructure to handle the pace of new residential development.