NDP Rides Perfect Storm to Victory in York South-Weston

An ill-conceived pay raise for provincial politicians, an intense and popular campaign to boost the minimum wage to $10/hour, and an election campaign being fought in one of the poorest ridings in Ontario, created the perfect storm for the NDP to cruise to a narrow victory in today's York South-Weston by-election. Paul Ferreira's stunning upset is sure to boost NDP spirits in Ontario. The party has now stolen three seats away from the McGuinty Liberals in by-elections (Hamilton East, Parkdale-High Park, and York South-Weston). The party's recent success is surely attributable to the development of strong, class-based, wedge issues. Let's hope for more of the same in the future.