Andrea Horwath's campaign dedication to northern Ontario has paid off for the party, as two new seats have gone to the NDP painting almost half the ridings in a sea of orange.
Horwath stressed "respect for northern Ontario" as part of her platform since the very beginning, with multiple trips to the north where she both started and finished her campaign.
"I know there were people in the north, people in Hamilton – people all across the province that weren't happy with the status quo and wanted to see some change. Now we have to work with that change to deliver for them," Horwath told reporters Thursday.
The NDP gained seats in Algoma-Manitoulin and Timiskaming-Cochrane.
"Northern Ontario looks like a sea of orange. (Horwath's) message … seems to be getting acknowledgement especially in the north," NDP MP Olivia Chow told CTV News from Horwath's victory celebration in Hamilton.
The Liberals didn't win any new northern Ontario seats, losing one each to the Tories and the NDP. Premier Dalton McGuinty lost northern supporters after dodging a debate in the region in September.
When asked about forming a possible coalition amid a minority government scenario, Horwath said: "No decisions have been made in that regard."
She added that getting back to work at the legislature is her priority.
"I'm hoping that we get back to queen's park as soon as possible," she said.
