2 more leader visits to Waterloo region: A look at 2nd week of campaign in Waterloo region and area
Coming up this week: Candidates must have paperwork filed by 2 p.m. Thursday with Elections Ontario
Local candidates continue their campaign efforts this week by knocking on doors, ordering signs and preparing for events.
Candidates continue to file their paperwork with Elections Ontario. As they do, they're officially listed as running for the seat in their riding.
Two more party leaders visited the region this week, meaning now all four leaders of the major parties — those that had MPPs at Queen's Park in the most recent session — have visited Waterloo region.
Local municipal leaders have shared their top concerns in the provincial election. Nearly everyone CBC K-W reporter Karis Mapp spoke to said the issues that are top of mind for this area are:
- Affordable housing.
- Homelessness.
- Access to healthcare.
- Infrastructure investment.
"What I really hope during this election is that every candidate and every party is talking about the concerns of municipalities," regional Chair Karen Redman said.
CBC K-W also held its first voter panel of the election on Monday with three people who are all engaged in the political process, but none of them have decided who to vote for yet.
Kitchener South-Hespeler voter Sherrie Sweeney questioned whether the snap election needed to be held, while Kitchener Centre voter Tom Hiller said he supporter Premier Doug Ford, but he's not happy with the local Progressive Conservative candidates.
Mohammad Abu-Rshaid, a voter in Kitchener-Conestoga, said he has to do more research before casting a ballot.
"I have not [decided] and I'm not particularly impressed," Abu-Rshaid said.
Leader visits to region
On Monday, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie visited Kitchener. She spoke to the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, then stopped by the office of Kitchener Centre Liberal candidate Colleen James.
Crombie's message in Kitchener focused on the need for doctors and transit investment for Waterloo region.
WATCH | Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie stops in Kitchener for 1st visit to region:
On Thursday, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford visited Guelph, Waterloo and Kitchener. During a media availability in Waterloo, Ford spoke about how his government will expand GO Transit, including two-way, all-day GO trains to Kitchener and that he supported the Region of Waterloo's plans to acquire lands in Wilmot Township for future industrial purposes.
WATCH | Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford takes questions during stop in Waterloo:
CBC K-W reporter Cameron Mahler also asked him if his government would create a "new deal" for municipalities to help them financially, similar to how agreements were reached with Toronto and Ottawa.
"There's no government, and you can ask any of the mayors, have they received more love off the PC government than any other government? The answer is overwhelmingly yes," he said, adding municipalities have received funding for shelters, housing and infrastructure from his government.
The visits by Crombie and Ford follow visits by Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, whose home riding is in Guelph, and NDP Leader Marit Stiles last week.
In Guelph on Thursday, Schreiner announced the Green plan to end "legislated poverty" and pledged to immediately double the amount of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) people receive.
Coming up
Candidates have until 2 p.m. on Thursday to get their paperwork filed with Elections Ontario. After that, candidate lists will be finalized.
On Thursday, there will also be an all-candidates forum held by Martin Luther University College on faith and politics. The organizers are inviting a representative from each of the four major parties to take part and discuss social justice issues of interest to faith communities including homelessness and housing, poverty, healthcare, the environment.
This event will take place at Mount Zion Lutheran Church on Westmount Rd., Waterloo, starting at 7 p.m. CBC K-W's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris will moderate the conversation.
- Is there a local provincial election-related event CBC K-W should know about? Email us.
Elections Ontario says people can expect voter information cards in the mail between Feb. 17 and 22.
Advance voting is set to take place Feb. 20 to 22, but people can vote at any time at their local returning office by special ballot. More details, including where your local office is located, can be found on the Elections Ontario website or app.
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