Dehn appointed candidate in Dufferin riding

ERIN – Michael Dehn, who has been mayor of Erin since 2022, is setting his sights on higher political office.

On Feb. 2, the Liberal Party nominated Dehn as its Dufferin-Caledon candidate in the provincial election later this month.

He may be facing an uphill battle, as he is up against current MPP Sylvia Jones who also serves as deputy premier and minster of health.

Jones has been a member of provincial parliament since 2007.

“It’s going to be a tough fight … she’s been there for a long time and I think we can all see that health care in Ontario has suffered a lot and is not where it needs to be for Ontarians,” Dehn told the Advertiser.

Dehn stated his priorities include road safety, emergency health care and food supply chain challenges.

He said Dufferin-Caledon has been facing an “unprecedented road safety crisis,” with fatal collisions in Caledon increasing by 114 per cent in 2023.

Dehn’s Feb. 2 press  release noted several infrastructure safety problems, including “tragic and preventable” collisions on Highways 9, 10 and 50 through Caledon and Dufferin.

As for his mayoral duties, Dehn said he feels confident the Town of Erin is going in the right direction and any of the current councillors would be a good mayor.

“I can deliver for the residents of Dufferin and Caledon, but also for all Ontarians,” he added.

“Especially rural Ontario and northern Ontario where our voices are just not heard the same as the GTA.”