NanBran eyes Queen’s Park

Nancy Branscombe just got closer to a seat in Ontario’s parliament.

The Ward 6 councillor for London has the seat in her sights after winning the Ontario Progressive Conservative nomination Wednesday for this year’s election. Both Ward 6 and the London North Centre riding encompass Western’s campus and all the affiliated university colleges.

It may be a tough campaign though — Branscombe’s opponent will be Deb Matthews, the current Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. However, Branscombe stressed the race will be based on issues.

“Deb Matthews is a great person, but we just don’t share a view about where the province is going,” she said. “People are losing confidence in [Ontario Premier Dalton] McGuinty.”

Fiscal issues like the projected deficit and “brick wall” municipalities, which have struggled with funding, were at the top of Branscombe’s reasons to run provincially.

When asked about student issues, Branscombe said she would take up the causes at the provincial level. She said being an MPP would allow for “even more interaction with students on the issues, like the lack of purpose-built housing.”

Though the riding has leaned Liberal in the last two elections, Branscombe said having a consistently strong rapport with students would help in taking the seat.