Jim Wilson’s announcement that he won’t seek re-election in the next Ontario general election has given the local Progressive Conservative riding association the time it needs to find a new candidate, says the riding president.

Wilson, who has been the MPP for the area — first in Simcoe West, then Simcoe-Grey following riding redistribution in 1997 — for 30 years, announced Sept. 24 he would not be seeking the Conservative nomination for 2022, nor would he run as an Independent.

Wilson has been sitting as an Independent MPP since November 2018, after he was removed from caucus by Premier Doug Ford following allegations of sexual misconduct. The results of an investigation have never been released.

Simcoe-Grey PC Association president Simon Ainley said the riding association will be striking a candidate selection committee fairly soon, with the likelihood of a nomination meeting sometime in 2021.

“Because of Jim’s announcement we now have ample time to do our work and to celebrate Jim’s career,” Ainley told Simcoe.com.

Ainley, who has known Wilson for the MPP’s entire time in the Ontario legislature, had high praise for the longtime politician, who also served in various cabinet positions over the years while on the government side, as well as the party’s interim leader in 2014 and 2015.

“In that time, he has never strayed from his prime directive, keeping a laser focus on the needs of his constituents,” Ainley said. “When around him, the discussion always has involved the riding, the latest community issues, what can we do to help — rarely anything else. Jim sits at Queen’s Park today for the same reasons he did when he first arrived in 1990. He never forgets the people who sent him there.”

“Life indeed will go on, but without the steady, caring, dependable political hand that the people of this riding have chosen to send as their representative to Ontario’s Legislature on eight separate occasions. He will be missed.”

The Conservatives have held sway over the area, through various riding configurations, continuously for more than 80 years; Wilson’s time as representative is the second-longest, with Rev. Wally Downer serving as MPP from 1937 until 1975. Downer was succeeded by George McCague; Wilson worked for McCague prior to going into provincial politics.

The next general election is scheduled to take place on or before June 2, 2022.