The Milton byelection race is heating up — and it could be a nail-biter.
A new Liaison Strategies poll for the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) shows a close contest between Zeeshan Hamid, running for the PCs, and the Liberal’s Galen Naidoo Harris.
Both garnered 39 per cent support among decided and leaning voters.
The NDP, represented by 2022 candidate Katherine Cirlincione in the poll but has since appointed Edie Strachan, trails behind with 10 per cent, while Kyle Hutton from the Green Party received 5 per cent.
"Milton was a tight race in the 2022 election with the Ford Tories winning by only 4 per cent. Among all voters the PCs hold a razor thin 1 per cent lead, while among those decided and leaning the Liberals and Tories are tied at 39 per cent a piece,” said David Valentin, principal at Liaison Strategies.
Valentin added: “This is the kind of riding Bonnie Crombie needs to win if she's going to form a government. Conversely, if Doug Ford and the PCs can hold onto seats like Milton, it bodes well for re-election.”
The interactive voice response telephone survey was conducted from March 27 to 28, before the byelection was called, and polled 451 local voters.
Back in March, Liaison released a poll showing the PCs leading the Liberals by three points in the 905, with a bigger 10 point lead provincewide.