With the Milton provincial byelection in full swing, a new poll by Mainstreet Research shows Galen Naidoo Harris with a razor-thin lead.
The poll results have Ontario Liberal Party candidate at 43.1 per cent among decided and leaning voters, just ahead of PC flagbearer Zee Hamid with 42.6 per cent. Kyle Hutton with the Greens and NDP Edie Strachan sit at 6 and 5.6 per cent respectively.
According to the polling company, the Liberals hold the most significant advantages among those over 65 and university educated voters.
Another new Mainstreet survey has the PCs leading by a large margin in the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex byelection.
“These polls align with recent Ontario wide polls,” said Quito Maggi, president and CEO of Mainstreet Research. In Milton, “The Ontario Liberals have an opportunity to gain a seat in the Ontario Legislature and get a step closer to official party status.”
Maggi added: “We cannot underestimate the organizational capacity advantage enjoyed by the governing PCs however, which could be enough for the Ford PCs to hold both seats and maintain the status quo at Queen’s Park.”
Given the stakes, there have been a number of high-profile local visits from both Premier Doug Ford and Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie in recent weeks. Milton has also been the stage for a couple of funding announcements recently by the PCs.
The Milton survey was conducted between April 16 and 18 and polled 348 adults. Respondents were interviewed on landlines and cellular phones. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.3 per cent.
Voters will head to the poll on May 2.