If you’re heading to the polls today in Niagara, there’s a few things you should remember ahead of time.
Firstly, your Voter Information Card. These were mailed out to eligible voters across the province over the last month. As with every election however, not everyone got their in time for today’s election.
If you don’t have a Voter Information Card, you can still cast a ballot, according to Greg Flood from Elections Ontario.
Audio PlayerWhether you’re in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Niagara West, or Niagara Centre, you can look online to find your nearest polling station at the Elections Ontario website. This is also where you can find which riding you’re in, if you’re unsure.
NIAGARA FALLS
In Niagara Falls, the region’s most populated riding, the incumbent is Ontario NDP candidate Wayne Gates. He’s held the seat since 2014, and earned 48% of the vote in the 2022 election.
Also running in Niagara Falls is City Councillor Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg for the Progressive Conservatives, Liberal candidate Shafoli Kapur, Green candidate Celia Taylor, Gary Dumelie of the New Blue Party, Andrew Soifert of the Ontario Party and independent candidate Joedy Burdett.
ST. CATHARINES
In St. Catharines, the seat is also held by an NDP candidate – Jennie Stevens. The seat was long held by the Liberal Party’s Jim Bradley, before Jennie Stevens won in 2018.
She retained her seat in 2022, narrowly beating out returning Progressive Conservative candidate Sal Sorrento by less than 3,000 votes.
Also running in the riding of over 110,000 people is Robin McPherson for the Liberals, Stephen Vincelette-Smith for the Green Party, Rob Atalick for the New Blue Party, Ontario Party candidate Liz Leeuwenburg, Ontario Alliance candidate J. Justin O’Donnell, and Natalia Benoit of the Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda Party.
NIAGARA CENTRE
The riding of Niagara Centre includes residents from Welland, Port Colborne, Thorold and parts of Southern St. Catharines, and is also currently held by the NDP’s Jeff Burch, who was elected in 2018. This riding has been an NDP stronghold since 1975.
Also running in Niagara Centre is Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele for the Progressive Conservatives, Liberal candidate Damien O’Brien, Natashia Bergen for the Green Party, Jimmy Jackson for the New Blue Party, Ontario Party candidate Darryl Weinberg, and Ontario Alliance candidate Angela Browne.
NIAGARA FALLS
Moving to the more rural riding of Niagara West, that’s where we see some change in leadership compared to the rest of the region, as the seat is held by Progressive Conservative candidate Sam Oosterhoff, who has been the representative since the riding was created in 2018.
Niagara West consists of six different municipalities including Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Wainfleet, West Lincoln and the western part of St. Catharines, and has a population of just over 90,000 people.
Also running in Niagara West includes former Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn for the NDP, Shauna Boyle for the Liberals, Green Party candidate Mark Harrison, Aaron Albano for the New Blue Party, Aaron Allison for the Ontario Party, Libertarian Stefanos Karatopis and People’s Party of Ontario candidate Jim Torma.
PARTY LEADERS
Heading into today’s election, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is the incumbent, as he’s been the Premier of Ontario since 2018. Ford visited the Niagara Region multiple times over the course of the last month, often joined by his candidates in all four ridings.
Another leader that’s visited the region multiple times is Ontario NDP’s Marit Stiles, who has visited to discuss topics such as GO Transit expansion and healthcare in Niagara.
For the Liberal Party, Bonnie Crombie is the leader, and has been since December 2023. She replaced interim leader John Fraser, who was in the position after Steven Del Duca stepped down following the 2022 election.
Mike Schreiner of the Green Party has been the leader since 2009 and is based out of Guelph. He was unsuccessful in his own riding’s elections in 2009, 2011 and 2014, but won the Guelph seat in 2018 and 2022.
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