There has been significant conversation around the Doug Ford Conservatives’ choice for the Progressive Conservative candidate in the Haldimand-Norfolk riding.
Norfolk County Mayor Amy Martin was recently announced as the candidate, but much of the attention has focused on how the announcement was handled.
During the last provincial election in 2022, it was well-documented that Ken Hewitt was appointed to represent the riding, with the Progressive Conservatives bypassing a nomination meeting. To many, the sudden announcement of Martin feels like lightning striking twice in the same riding.
In a statement from the Ontario PC Party’s Director of Communications Peter Turkington, the timeline of the nomination process leading to Martin’s selection was outlined:
“In September 2024, the Haldimand-Norfolk PC Association announced the opening of its nomination process via email to all current members, inviting interested individuals to apply. Among the multiple applications received was one from Amy Martin. The riding association’s search committee asked questions of the candidates and invited them to meet before submitting their names for vetting.”
The statement further indicated that Martin was selected following a thorough review process.
Criticism of the Process
One prominent critic of the process is former Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp, who previously ran against Martin for the mayoral seat.
Chopp recently shared a tongue-in-cheek critique of the local PC riding association’s “process” on social media.
Chopp drew comparisons to past candidates in the riding, such as Hewitt and Haldimand-Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis, who was criticized during her campaign for not living in the community at the time.
Chopp argued that even if the process had changed since 2022, there was no need for it to be rushed into a one-month timeframe.
MPP Bobbi Ann Brady’s Opposition
MPP Bobbi Ann Brady has also voiced strong opposition to the nomination process, describing it in an interview with Norfolk Today as “the demise of democracy.”
However, not everyone agrees with this characterization.
Ken Hewitt Weighs In
Ken Hewitt, Brady’s former opponent in the last provincial election, has taken issue with the criticisms. Hewitt shared his perspective with Norfolk Today, addressing Brady’s ongoing remarks about the nomination process.
It was widely reported and confirmed by PC sources that Toby Barrett, upon announcing his retirement, had asked the Doug Ford Conservatives to appoint Brady as the Progressive Conservative nominee for the upcoming election—a request that ultimately went unfulfilled.
As for Brady’s claim about the “demise of democracy,” Hewitt disagrees with her assessment.
The former Haldimand County mayor currently holds a position with the Land Planning Tribunal under the current government.
Other Candidates
Although Martin was selected, there were other applicants, though their names have not been disclosed. One individual who publicly campaigned for the nomination was Dustin Wakeford.
In July, Wakeford declared his interest in the candidacy, explaining to Norfolk Today that he wanted to be the first to step forward. A long-time Conservative, Wakeford expressed frustration with the choice of Martin and questioned why the administration would consider candidates like Martin, who lacks a significant track record with the party, or Hewitt, who once ran as a Liberal candidate.
Wakeford, a self-declared political junkie, noted that these “appointments” are becoming increasingly common under the current government.
He believes decisions like the Martin nomination are eroding public trust in politics at a time when that trust is already fragile.
While Wakeford did publicly campaign for the role, when time came in September to submit paperwork, he declined to do so as he felt that the chosen candidate was already decided.
Reaching Out
Norfolk Today reached out to Amy Martin for an interview when her candidacy was first announced on November 29, but no response has been provided as of publication.
Written by Matt LeBlanc