MEET CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE DAVID PICCINI

David Piccini, the incumbent Conservative MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South, is vying to keep his seat in the 2022 provincial election.

Piccini's name will be on the ballot come June 2 when residents elect their next MPP - and Ontario decides on its next premier.

To introduce residents to their local candidates, we asked Piccini and others to answer some quick questions.

HERE'S A QUICK RUNDOWN:

Piccini, 34, of Port Hope, is the Ontario PC Party candidate for Northumberland-Peterborough South. He previously worked with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

PAST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:

"I was first elected in 2018 to represent our community in Queen's Park. Last year, I also had the honour of being appointed the minister of the environment, conservation and parks."

HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE PROVINCE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE AND WHY?

"I'm not sure the pandemic response is something that you can give a letter grade to. There was no blueprint for the past two years.

"COVID-19 was an unprecedented situation. Having said that, I'm proud of how our government and community responded. Thanks to the vaccine program, Ontario continues to report the lowest rates of active cases in the country."

"We have a plan to keep Ontario open, which includes historic investments in Northumberland Hills Hospital, as well as providing more hours of direct care to long-term care home residents."

IF RE-ELECTED, I WILL...:

"When I first threw my hat into the ring in 2018, I did so because I was tired of rural Ontario getting left behind by politicians in Toronto. Over the past four years, we've changed that.

"We got it done for our community by connecting Northumberland to the GO network, bringing high-speed internet to every single home in Northumberland County by 2024, and by making historic investments in roads and bridges throughout Northumberland-Peterborough South.

I'm really proud of what we've accomplished together, but our government has so much left to do.

"We want to build Ontario and make our economy the strongest in Canada. We want to protect the progress we made during the pandemic by investing in our local hospitals.

"That's why on June 2, I need your help to get it done for the future of Ontario. We're ready to get it done for Northumberland."