Ontario Votes 2018: RenfrewNipissingPembroke - Action News
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Ontario Votes 2018: RenfrewNipissingPembroke

The rural riding of RenfrewNipissingPembroke has been conservative nearly since its inception, with PC incumbent John Yakabuski taking more than 60 per cent of the vote for the past three elections.

PC incumbent John Yakabuski has taken more than 60 per cent of the vote in past elections

PC incumbent John Yakabuski (centre) is fighting to retain his seat in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke against challengers Liberal Jackie Agnew (left) and NDP Ethel LaValley. (Submitted)

Made up of a number of rural communities, RenfrewNipissingPembroke has the lowest population density of any of the eastern Ontario ridings and a strong history of going conservative.

The riding includesPembroke, Deep River, Renfrew, Petawawaand Arnprior.

The latest census shows the riding has a higher-than-average proportion of Indigenous peopleat 8.7 per cent of the population, and theaverage household income dips below the provincial average. When it comes to work, the largest industries are health care and social assistance, retail tradeand construction.

Who's running?

Since this riding was created in 1998, it has only gone Liberal once. The party was defeated by PC John Yakabuskiin 2003 and the former real-estate agent and business owner took at least 60 per cent of the vote in the past three general elections.

Liberal candidate Jackie Agnew is hoping to pull support from the incumbent. Agnew is a municipal councillor in Bonnechere Valley Township and works on housing and homelessness withtheRenfrew County Housing Corporation.

The NDP candidate is Ethel LaValley, who is no stranger to regional politics. LaValleywas the mayor of the Township of South Algonquinafter serving as reeve of the former Township of Airy for more than a decade.

On the ballot for the Green Party is Anna Dolan, who has experience in the tech sector.Murray Reid is running for the Ontario Provincial Confederation of Regions Partyand Jesse Woodis representing the Libertarian Party.