Dr. Eric Hoskins, of the Liberal party, prevailed at the Sept. 17 byelection to win the vacant provincial government seat left by former MPP Michael Bryant.
Hoskins won more than 47 per cent of votes cast. He ran against the Progressive Conservative party’s Sue-Ann Levy, a municipal politics columnist for the Toronto Sun, who won more than 28 per cent. Trailing behind was the New Democratic Party candidate, Julian Heller, who won more than 16 per cent of the vote. Hoskins also ran against seven other candidates.
“Many, many thanks to everyone who helped during the campaign,” Hoskins said. “It was a blast. Now it’s time to get to work for St. Paul’s.”
Hoskins, a practising doctor, spent more than 10 years working abroad as a doctor, doing humanitarian work after he finished his medical studies at McMaster and Oxford universities. He then spent time advising Lloyd Axworthy, former minister of foreign affairs with the Chrétien government, on human rights, peacekeeping, child soldiers and Africa.
Hoskins has received the Order of Canada and the United Nations Lester B. Pearson Award
Hoskins is married to Dr. Samantha Nutt and has a four-year-old son, Rhys.
“I want to congratulate Dr. Eric Hoskins on his victory in the byelection in St. Paul’s,” said Premier Dalton McGuinty. “It takes courage to put your name on a ballot and campaign from door to door. And it also requires unswerving dedication to our democratic traditions and a belief in the value of public service.”
