The Independent

There are three more candidates in the race for the job of Sarnia-Lambton MPP.

Elections Ontario says Mark Lamore, Pamela Reid and Tom Stoukas are now in the race.

Stoukas, who is running for the Populist Ontario party, used to own Athena’s Restaurant in Petrolia. During the pandemic in 2021, Stoukas opposed the provincial COVID-19 mandate which required businesses, including restaurants, to ask patrons for proof of vaccination against COVID-19 calling them “commie vax passport.”

Stoukas was also charged for opening the restaurant during a lockdown in January 2022 and joined the Trucker’s Convoy which occupied the streets of Parliament Hill that February.

He closed his rest in April 2022.

Populist Ontario ran candidates in the 2022 election. It’s website says the party was created to offer an alternative to legacy parties. “We have witnessed our governments erode and trample upon our natural rights and ignore the laws designed to protect citizens from the tyranny of government overreach.  These abuses have only escalated under the guise of ‘public health’ measures implemented in response to COVID-19 hysteria,” the website said.

Reid, a teaching assistant with the London District Catholic School Board, will be representing the Green Party of Ontario. She’s a 24-year veteran of the party and ran in the London West riding in 2018.

Lamore, a Sarnia resident, is running for the Ontario Party led by former federal MP Derek Sloan.

Lamore, who was against the province’s actions during the pandemic, says the Ontario Party will be cutting provincial gas taxes, opposing any form of carbon tax and the Paris Climate Accord as well as the “dystopian digital ID.”

Lamore, in a video on social media, pointed out Ontario PC Candidate, Bob Bailey’s, radio ads say the Conservatives are the only party to lead Ontario. But, Lamore said, Doug Ford’s actions in the face of US tariffs show otherwise.

“Making threats against Canada’s biggest export trade partner is not typically a way that is good for business. And what is not good for business is not good for us,” he said in the video adding Ford is “the reddist conservative I’ve seen in my lifetime.’

The three join the already declared candidates in the race, Bailey, who is the incumbent, Rachel Willse of the Liberals, Candace Young of the NDP, Keith Benn of the New Blue Party, Jacques Bourdeau, a Libertarian candidate, and Nathan Colquhoun, an independent.

Today was the last day for candidates to register to run in the Feb. 27th election.