Sam Oosterhoff

Sam Oosterhoff
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Niagara West—Glanbrook
Assumed office
November 17, 2016
Preceded by Tim Hudak
Personal details
Born 1996/1997 (age 19–20)
Political party Progressive Conservative
Residence Vineland, Ontario

Sam Oosterhoff (born 1996/1997) is the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the riding of Niagara-West Glanbrook. Oosterhoff is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and was elected in a November 2016 byelection. At 19 years old, he is the youngest Ontario MPP to ever be elected.[1] The previous record was held by Reid Scott who was elected as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MPP in 1948 at the age of 21.[2]

Early life and career

Oosterhoff was born and raised in Vineland, Ontario,[3] where he lived with his parents at the time of the byelection.[4] He is a member of the Canadian Reformed Church.[5]

Before being nominated, Oosterhoff briefly worked as legislative assistant and policy analyst on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.[3] At the time of his election, he was in the middle of his first year studying political science at Brock University,[4] which he entered after being homeschooled.[1] After his election, he planned to resume his studies in January 2017 with night classes and summer school.[6]

Politics

In October 2016, Oosterhoff was nominated as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Niagara West—Glanbrook to replace Tim Hudak who resigned his seat that September.[7] Former MP and current President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Rick Dykstra was the favoured candidate by both the party establishment and PC leader Patrick Brown, but Oosterhoff had more local support, including that of his church.[4][8][9]

Social conservatives such as Charles McVety accused Patrick Brown of muzzling Oosterhoff during the campaign because of the candidate's opposition to the new sexual education curriculum.[10] On November 17, 2016, Oosterhoff defeated New Democratic challenger, Mike Thomas, by 9,528 votes.[4] At 19 years old, he became the youngest person elected as an MPP.[1] The previous record was held by Reid Scott who was elected as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MPP in 1948 at the age of 21.[2]

He was sworn in as an MPP on November 30, one day after Nathalie Des Rosiers who also won a byelection on November 17, was sworn in. Critics said the delay was to keep Oosterhoff out of the legislature for a vote on Bill 28 which was unanimously passed on November 29. Bill 28 made it easier for same-sex couples to become legal parents, and Oosterhoff had previously voiced objections to the bill.[11] PC leader Brown said the delay was so that Oosterhoff could organize a celebration party for his family and supporters.[11][12]

Oosterhoff is a social conservative,[1][4][8] and believes that abortion and same-sex marriage should be illegal.[13]

Electoral results

Ontario provincial by-election, November 17, 2016: Niagara West—Glanbrook
Resignation of Tim Hudak
** Preliminary results — Not yet official **
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive ConservativeSam Oosterhoff 17,651 54.00 +12.18
New DemocraticMike Thomas 8,123 24.85 +2.63
LiberalVicky Ringuette 4,997 15.29 -13.05
GreenDonna Cridland 892 2.73 -2.64
LibertarianStefanos Karatopis 355 1.09 -0.65
None of the AboveGreg Vezina 342 1.05
IndependentMartin Poos 206 0.63
Stop the New Sex-Ed AgendaQueenie Yu 76 0.23
Canadian Constituents'Arthur Smitherman 44 0.13
Total valid votes 32,686
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots
Turnout 32,68631.98
Eligible voters 102,219
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +4.78

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Leslie, Keith (November 17, 2016). "Ontario byelection results: PC candidate Sam Oosterhoff, 19, becomes youngest ever elected to legislature". National Post. The Canadian Press. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Paikin, Steve (November 18, 2016). "Two byelections offer little clarity for provincial parties". TVO. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Edwards, Luke (September 14, 2016). "Oosterhoff joins race to replace Hudak". www.niagarathisweek.com. Grimsby Lincoln News. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Benzie, Robert; Ferguson, Rob (November 17, 2016). "Young Tory wins Niagara as Liberals hold Ottawa-area riding". Toronto Star.
  5. ↑ Ferguson, Rob (12 November 2016). "Tories pinning hopes on 19-year-old to take Niagara byelection". Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  6. ↑ Blizzard, Christina (November 11, 2016). "19-year-old PC candidate has caused ripples". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  7. ↑ "19-year-old Sam Oosterhoff wins PC nomination for Niagara West-Glanbrook". CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 23, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Ferguson, Rob (November 15, 2016). "Tory teen fights to overcome age gap". Hamilton Spectator. Metroland Media. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  9. ↑ LaFleche, Grant (October 23, 2016). "A 19-year-old social conservative beat Tory heavyweights to run as PC candidate in Ontario by-election". National Post. Postmedia News.
  10. ↑ Leslie, Keith (November 1, 2016). "Social conservatives accuse Patrick Brown of 'muzzling' new candidate on sex-ed". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Ballingall, Alex (November 30, 2016). "Sam Oosterhoff sworn in as youngest MPP, says he's 'absolutely not' a homophobe". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  12. ↑ Rushowy, Kristin (November 28, 2016). "Sam Oosterhoff's swearing in is delayed". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  13. ↑ Fisher, Robert (October 28, 2016). "The teen candidate that spells trouble for PC leader Patrick Brown". CBC News.
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