Calling it the honour of her life, NDP incumbent Peggy Sattler will once again be representing London West at Queen’s Park.
Sattler took an early lead minutes after the polls closed at 9 pm. Thursday and easily retained the seat she has held since 2013. With all 65 polls reporting, the veteran New Democrat took 22,504 of the votes – 5,624 more than her nearest rival, Progressive Conservative candidate Paul Paolatto. The Liberal’s Vanessa Lalonde came in third with 6,072 votes.
“I want to say a big thank you to the people of London West, to all those who cast a ballot today, and have entrusted me with the privilege of being their MPP since 2013. It has truly been the honour of my life,” Sattler said to a crowd of cheering supporters who had gathered to celebrate her win at Strokers Billiards on Springbank Drive.
Sattler first won London West in a byelection called after Liberal Chris Bentley resigned the seat in 2013. She has held the riding ever since, taking 40.3 per cent of the vote in 2014 and 55.3 per cent in the 2018 election.
“It’s really humbling to have that trust of the voters to be their voice at Queen’s Park. I’m excited to go back to keep on fighting for the services that the people in London West need,” said Sattler. “I’m looking forward to making a difference for the people in this community and for this province.”
Among her priorities when she gets back to the provincial legislature will be fighting for affordable housing, paid sick days for workers, and improved social assistance. Sattler also said she will reintroduce the Our London Family Act, an anti-Islamophobia bill named in honour of a Muslim family killed in a hate-motivated attack in London on June 6, 2021.
“It’s absolutely a priority. In days we’re going to be marking the first anniversary of the horrific murder of four members of the Afzaal family and it is absolutely a priority to get concrete measures in place to deal with Islamaphobia, racism, and hate in London and across the province,” said Sattler.
The Our London Family Act would ensure a provincial review of hate crimes and hate-motivated incidents in the province, create a safe zone around religious institutions and places of worship, and prevent white supremacist groups from registering as societies. It would also establish an Ontario anti-racism advisory and advocacy council to advise on government policies and empower the Speaker of the House to ban protests at Queen’s Park that incite racist, homophobic, transphobic or xenophobic hate.
The bill failed to get unanimous consent from the legislature when introduced by the NDP in March.
Sattler acknowledged her husband Neil and two children during her victory celebration, thanking them for their “unconditional love”, “unconditional support”, and the “sacrifices” they have made to allow her to serve at Queen’s Park.
