HUNTSVILLE — You might not want to hear it, but the next provincial election is right around the corner.

Matt Richter, the Parry Sound Muskoka candidate for the Green Party of Ontario, kick started his campaign on Oct. 21 with a training day for supporters in Port Sydney. The event featured an enthusiastically received speech by party leader Mike Schreiner and a breakdown of how Richter can win the riding by former environmental commissioner of Ontario Gord Miller.

Historically, Green candidates have won in ridings where they are able to increase voter turnout.

“Is this riding winnable? Yes, it is. Norm Miller, great guy, got his 15,000 votes in his pocket and I will tell you he’s going to get them again,” said Gord Miller.

“He won with 15,000 votes last time. There’s 75,000 electors in the last election and he won the election with one-person-in-five voting for him — that’s how you win this riding. One person in five voted for him and everyone thinks he’s totally undefeatable. This is wide open.”

In the 2014 provincial election Richter received over 7,000 votes — roughly 20 per cent of all ballots cast. That made him the third most voted for candidate and placed him above the NDP candidate.

Miller highlighted a number of reasons he believes the Greens will do even better this year including that the party has significantly increased funding. He specifically highlighted the aging demographic that comprises many Conservative party supporters and the results of mock elections held in local high schools during the last election cycle in 2014.

“Who wins all the high school elections in Parry Sound Muskoka? The Greens. There are voters this time who in the last election were 14 years old and 15 and 16 and 17,” said Miller.

The keynote address of the day was delivered by Mike Schreiner, leader of the Green Party of Ontario. He fielded questions from the roughly 30 supporters in attendance and told the audience why he believes they are the party Ontario needs.

Schreiner spoke highly of Richter describing the small business entrepreneur and teacher as the kind of person who could represent the riding well.