Ontario Greens announce Marlene Spruyt as Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston candidate

With the provincial election expected in less than a month, Marlene Spruyt has been nominated as the Ontario Greens’ candidate for the Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston riding.

According to a release from the Green Party of Ontario, Spruyt is a retired family and public health physician who is alarmed by how access to primary care in Ontario has progressively worsened over the past decade. She serves as the Ontario Greens’ Health Critic and was the party’s candidate in the 2022 election.

“Every person in Ontario regardless of where they live should have access to quality health care,” Spruyt said in a press release on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.

“The current crisis of caring facing our province is due to Doug Ford’s failure to invest in our healthcare system. With the Ontario Greens, I’m fighting to take better care of the people we love.”

The Green Party shared that Spruyt has lived most of her life in small rural communities around the province.

“Marlene brings a wealth of first-hand medical experience to the Ontario Greens,” said Ontario Greens’ leader Mike Schreiner in a statement. “I know she’ll be a strong advocate for better health care in her community and across Ontario.”

On Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed that the Ontario Conservatives will call an election on Wednesday, Jan. 29, after “visiting the Lieutenant Governor” on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Ostensibly, that visit will be to request Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont to dissolve the legislature, as per the Ontario Elections Act.

“We need a mandate from the people to fight against Donald Trump’s tariffs. The attack is coming against our families, our businesses, our communities, and with a strong mandate, we will be able to fight with Donald Trump to make sure we stop the tariffs and make sure that we give certainty to the people of Ontario…” Ford said at a press event in Markham.

“It’s no different than during the pandemic. We’ll make sure we secure people’s livelihoods, and I will do whatever it takes to protect the people of Ontario in turn, because we’re the engine of Canada, protecting all Canadians. We will not back down.”

If “the writ drops” (the election is called) on Wednesday, then a provincial election will take place 28 days later — after 28 days of campaigning — on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Currently, the Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston seat in Queen’s Park is held by MPP John Jordan.

Lanarkist will provide further coverage of candidates for the provincial election in the KFL&A region as the election draws closer — if it is called later this week.

With files from Tori Stafford.