It's 2 months until the provincial election. Here's a look at who's running in Waterloo region and area so far
Ontarians head to the polls on June 2
It's two months until the next provincial election.
With that in mind, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo is taking a brief look at each local riding and who has already announced they will run.
Locally, there is a wide political spectrum. In Waterloo region, two MPPs are with the sitting Progressive Conservatives, two are with the Opposition NDP and one has created a brand new party.
Looking outside the region, Guelph is the riding for the leader of the Green Party of Ontario, while two PC MPPs serve in Wellington-Halton Hills and Perth-Wellington.
There are currently no Liberals holding seats in the area.
Confirmed candidates are listed below, but that list is expected to grow. Candidates must have paperwork into Elections Ontario by 2 p.m. on May 12.
The provincial election is set to take place June 2, 2022.
We want to hear from you. At the bottom of this article, you will find a form that you can fill out to let us know what your top issues are in this election. If you'd be willing to speak with a CBC K-W reporter or be part of a voter panel in the coming weeks, please leave your contact information.
Cambridge
MPP Belinda Karahalios currently serves the riding of Cambridge.
Karahalios was elected as a member of the Progressive Conservatives, but was removed from the party in 2020 after she voted against a government motion.
She and her husband have launched the New Blue Ontario party.
Karahalios won the seat in 2018, beating incumbent Liberal MPP Kathryn McGarry, who now serves as the city's mayor.
In 2014, McGarry edged out former PC MPP Rob Leone for the seat. Before McGarry's win, the riding had been PC since 1995, with Gerry Martiniuk serving as MPP from 1995 to 2011.
The following candidates have announced they will run in Cambridge (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Carla Johnson, Green Party of Ontario.
- Belinda Karahalios, incumbent, New Blue Party of Ontario.
- Marjorie Knight, NDP.
- Brian Riddell, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
- Surekha Shenoy, Liberal.
Kitchener Centre
MPP Laura Mae Lindo currently serves the riding of Kitchener Centre.
Lindo is a member of the NDP and serves as the party's critic for anti-racism, colleges and universities. She's also the chair for the Ontario Black Caucus.
Lindo won the seat in 2018, beating incumbent Liberal MPP Daiene Vernile.
Vernile won the seat in 2014 and served on a number of committees before she was named a cabinet minister in January when she became the minister of tourism, culture and sport.
Prior to Vernile's win, the seat had been held by another Liberal, John Milloy, who served as MPP from 2003 to 2014. Before Milloy, the riding was served PC Wayne Wettlaufer, who held the seat from 1995 to 2003.
The following candidates have announced they will run in Kitchener Centre (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Laura Mae Lindo, incumbent, NDP.
- Wayne Mak, Green.
- Jim Schmidt, Progressive Conservatives.
- Kelly Steiss, Liberal.
Kitchener-Conestoga
MPP Mike Harris currently serves the riding of Kitchener-Conestoga.
Harris is a member of the Progressive Conservatives and is parliamentary assistant to the minister of natural resources and forestry.
Harris won the seat in 2018 after the former MPP, Michael Harris, was removed from the Progressive Conservative party and did not seek reelection.
Harris had served as MPP since 2011, when he beat Liberal Leeanna Pendergast. Pendergast had beaten Harris in the 2007 election by 1,500 votes.
The following candidates have announced they will run in Kitchener-Conestoga (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Mike Harris, incumbent, Progressive Conservative.
- Karen Meissner, NDP.
- Melanie Van Alphen, Liberal.
Kitchener South-Hespeler
MPP Amy Fee currently serves the riding of Kitchener South-Hespeler.
Fee is a member of the Progressive Conservatives and is parliamentary assistant in the ministry of children, community and social services.
Fee won the seat in 2018, which was the first year of the riding's existence. She announced in August 2021 that she would not seek re-election this year.
"As a single mother with four children, I feel my voice is critically important, especially on education, support for parents, women's issues, and social services. Sadly, I feel my opportunities to contribute to the community in this role are being outpaced by the increasing demands of my family," Fee said in the release.
The following candidates have announced they will run in Kitchener South-Hespeler (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Jess Dixon, Progressive Conservative.
- Ismail Mohamed, Liberal.
- David Weber, Green.
- Joanne Weston, NDP.
Waterloo
MPP Catherine Fife currently serves the riding of Waterloo.
Fife is a member of the NDP and is the party's caucus chair and finance and treasury board critic. Fife has held the seat since 2012.
Fife's win in 2012 came after long-time Progressive Conservative MPP Elizabeth Witmer stepped down from politics. Witmer had held the seat since 1990.
Liberal Herb Epp held the seat before Witmer from 1977 to 1990, when he retired.
Before 2012, there were only 10 years where the seat wasn't held by a Liberal or Progressive Conservative. That includes five years, between 1919 to 1923, when it was held by an independent Liberal named Nicholas Asmussen and then in a stretch from 1943 to 1948 when the seat was held first by John Henry Cook of the Co-operative Commonwealth and then by Liberal-Labour MPP Joseph Ignatino Meinzinger.
The following candidates have announced they will run in Waterloo (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Andrew Aitken, Progressive Conservative.
- Shefaza Esmail, Green.
- Catherine Fife, incumbent, NDP.
- Rami Said, Liberal.
Guelph
MPP and Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner currently serves the riding of Guelph.
Schreiner won the seat in 2018 after former Liberal MPP Liz Sandals opted not to run in the election. Sandals had held the seat since 2003.
The following candidates have announced they will run in Guelph (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Raechelle Devereaux, Liberal.
- Peter McSherry, Progressive Conservative.
- James Parr, NDP.
- Mike Schreiner, incumbent, Green.
Wellington-Halton Hills
MPP Ted Arnott currently serves the riding of Wellington-Halton Hills.
Arnott has held the seat since 1990 and has served as Speaker for the legislature during his most recent term.
While Arnott has served for more than 30 years, his time at Queen's Park has not bested the 42 years Harry Nixon of Brant County served. Nixon also served briefly as premier in 1943.
The following candidates have announced they will in Wellington-Halton Hills (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Ted Arnott, incumbent, Progressive Conservatives.
- Diane Ballantyne, NDP.
- Ryan Kahro, Greens.
Perth-Wellington
MPP Randy Pettapiece currently serves the riding of Perth-Wellington.
Pettapiece has held the seat since 2011. The riding was previously held by Liberal John Wilkinson, who served as the MPP from 2007 to 2011.
Pettapiece is not seeking reelection this year. In a press release in Nov. 2021, he had just turned 73 years old and running again would "mean committing, potentially, to another four-year term. For a full-time MPP, the hours are often long. In retiring, I choose instead to spend those hours as a full-time husband, father, and grandfather."
The following candidates have announced they will in Perth-Wellington (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Jo-Dee Burbach, NDP.
- Ashley Fox, Liberal.
- Matthew Rae, Progressive Conservative.
We want to hear from you
We want to hear what's important to you in the lead up to the next provincial election. Please fill out the form below to share your thoughts.
Did we miss a candidate? Email us with their information.