Simard was elected in the 2018 provincial election as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario,[1] but left the PC caucus on November 29, 2018, after Ontario premier Doug Ford eliminated the province's French-language services commissioner and cancelled plans for a new French language university.

After graduating from law school, her intention to run for public office postponed plans to get called to the bar in Ontario.

On December 4, 2017, Simard was acclaimed as the Ontario PC candidate for Glengarry Prescott Russell after another nominee, Derek Duval, was disallowed by the party executive.

[2] She was praised for defence of her fellow Franco-Ontarians including by a unanimous resolution of the National Assembly of Quebec.

This nomination was defended by interim leader John Fraser but opposed by former riding MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde.