LAURIE WEIR

We asked the candidates running in the Leeds-Grenville, Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes riding in the Feb. 27 provincial election, the same five questions. We will add to the list when we hear from the candidates. 

THE QUESTIONS

1. Ontario’s Economy & U.S. Tariffs – With the potential for new U.S. tariffs on key Ontario industries, what concrete steps will you and your party take to protect local businesses and jobs in this riding?

2. Cost of Living & Affordability – Many Ontarians are struggling with the rising cost of essentials like groceries, housing, and utilities. What specific measures will you push for to provide relief to residents in this riding?

3. Healthcare & Rural Services – Wait times, doctor shortages, and ER closures remain critical concerns. How will you ensure that this riding gets the necessary funding and resources to maintain and improve local healthcare services?

4. Transportation & Infrastructure – Rural and suburban communities often struggle with transit and infrastructure funding. What commitments will you make to improve roads, bridges, and transit options here?

5. Accountability & Representation – This riding has been a long-standing PC stronghold. What would you say to voters who feel taken for granted, and how will you demonstrate that their voices are truly being heard at Queen’s Park?

Candidates are: Daniel Calabretta, Ontario Party;  Steve Clark (incumbent) Provincial Conservative Party; Lorna Jean Edmonds, Liberal Party; Chris Garrah New Blue Party; Fiona Jager, Green Party; Mark Snow, Libertarian, and Chris Wilson, Ontario New Democratic Party.

THE CANDIDATES

STEVE CLARK

(Incumbent) Provincial Conservative Candidate

Has been the riding’s MPP since 2010. 

He has also worked in media and was a chief administrative officer at the municipal level.

1. Ontario’s Economy & U.S. Tariffs

Only our PC Team has a plan to protect Ontario, and that’s what this election is about. It’s about our community’s workers and their families. The fact is hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake and we have to fight back. Doug Ford, me, and our team will make sure we use every tool in our toolbox to protect Ontario works, businesses and families. We will make sure we are prosperous, create good paying jobs and that we have a loud voice when negotiating against these tariffs.

Doug Ford needs a strong, stable, four-year mandate that outlives and outlasts the Trump administration to do whatever is necessary to protect Ontario. 

2. Cost of Living & Affordability

Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs recognize that affordability is an issue for young families and seniors alike. That’s why we’ve taken and will continue to implement a number of measures that will put more than $8 billion back into the pockets of Ontarians. These include:

• Cutting the gas tax to save drivers hundreds of dollars a year. Our party will make the gas tax cut permanent if re-elected.
• Delivering a Taxpayer Rebate that will provide $3 billion in support for about 12.5 million adults and 2.5 million children in Ontario.
• Eliminating license plate renewal fees and the requirement to have a license plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds.
• Launching new energy efficiency programs including the Home Renovation Savings Program to help families and businesses save money.

3. Healthcare & Rural Services 

As MPP, I fought hard to ensure Leeds and Grenville was one of just four regions in Ontario selected for the REDI pilot program. This pilot will enable us to attract up to 200 healthcare professionals to our region. These will include, family physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners, nurses and PSWs.

Through our government’s Primary Care Action Team led by Dr. Jane Philpott, we are investing an additional $1.8 billion to connect every person in Ontario with a primary care provider. This includes bringing an Urgent Care Clinic to our riding to serve patients and take pressure off our local Emergency Departments. 

This work builds on the action our government has taken to add 15,000 new doctors since 2018 and expand access to primary care through the largest medical school education system expansion in 15 years. We have also made historic investments to create more primary care teams – including in Mallorytown to serve unattached patients throughout the riding – expand the Learn and Stay Program, and break down barriers for internationally trained doctors.

Another investment that will decrease wait times in Emergency Departments are the unprecedented five long-term care homes that have completed redevelopment or are in the midst of one. In addition to providing better care for seniors, this will free up beds in our local hospitals and dramatically improve the flow in emergency.

4. Transportation & Infrastructure

I’m proud of the strong working relationship that I have with our local mayors and councils. I stand shoulder to shoulder with them in delegations at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and Rural Ontario Municipal Association conferences. The result of these delegations can be seen in tens of millions of dollars in investments for projects across Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

In addition, as part of the Ford government’s historic support for Ontario municipalities, in October the government increased the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund by $100 million over two years. This funding bolsters essential services that municipalities provide and is in addition to the funds municipalities receive through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund to support maintenance of roads and bridges.

Through the Ontario Transit Investment Fund, in 2024 the government provided nearly $300,000 to the City of Brockville and the Municipality of North Grenville for transit services.

5. Accountability & Representation

Being the voice for my constituents is my top priority and biggest responsibility as MPP. I pride myself on having an outstanding constituency office that deals with issues and concerns residents bring forward every day. We’re problem-solvers for people when it comes to dealing with government bureaucracy.

Since 2010, I’ve stood up in the Legislature and been a loud voice for issues that have affected residents in every corner of our riding. By meeting with and listening to constituents, I’ve also tabled Private Members’ Bills that have become law.

I make it a point to attend many community events on evenings and weekends. This ensures that I’m keeping connected to the people I represent. They can approach me and talk to me about the issues that matter to them and give me direct feedback on the job I’m doing.

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LORNA JEAN EDMONDS

Liberal Candidate

She holds a BA in science, Queen’s University, a Master in Health Administration, University of Ottawa, and a PhD in Development Studies, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom. She’s the former Vice Provost for Global Affairs and International Studies and Professor, College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University.

1. Ontario’s Economy & U.S. Tariffs

Lorna Jean Edmonds expressed deep concern about the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on key Ontario industries, particularly in rural areas. She criticized Premier Doug Ford for neglecting rural Ontario, focusing instead on urban centers like Toronto and the Windsor corridor. Edmonds highlighted the vulnerability of local industries, especially agriculture, which relies heavily on exports to the U.S. She pointed out that 80 per cent of the riding’s horticulture is exported to the U.S., making it a critical issue for local farmers.

Edmonds emphasized the need for careful negotiation with the U.S., particularly regarding supply management systems for dairy, eggs, and beef. She criticized Ford’s approach, suggesting that his rhetoric has made Ontario appear weak in the eyes of the U.S. administration. Edmonds advocated for a more strategic and collaborative approach, leveraging Canada’s strong global relationships and negotiating expertise to protect local businesses and jobs. She also warned that Ford’s cuts to education and healthcare have left Ontario economically vulnerable, making it harder to respond to external pressures like tariffs.

2. Cost of Living & Affordability

Edmonds addressed the rising cost of living, noting that many residents in the riding are struggling with essentials like groceries, housing, and utilities. She praised Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie’s plan to provide permanent tax cuts, including a reduction in HST on heating bills, which could save families up to $1,000 annually. Edmonds contrasted this with Ford’s one-time $200 rebate, which she called a “gimmick.”

Edmonds also highlighted plans to support small businesses by cutting interest rates in half and addressing housing affordability by eliminating development charges and land transfer taxes for first-time homebuyers. Edmonds stressed the importance of rent control, which she said Ford had undermined, and promised to reinstate protections for renters. She emphasized that these measures would not only provide immediate relief but also stimulate the local economy by putting more money in people’s pockets.

3. Healthcare & Rural Services

Edmonds identified healthcare as a critical issue in the riding, citing long wait times, doctor shortages, and emergency room closures. She noted that nearly 25 per cent of the riding’s population lacks access to a family physician, a situation she described as a crisis. Edmonds criticized the Ford government for failing to address these issues, despite having a majority in the legislature.

She outlined the Liberal plan to ensure everyone in Ontario has access to a family doctor within four years, supported by investments in nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. Edmonds also emphasized the need for better community-based care to reduce the burden on hospitals. She pointed to the strain on local hospitals, such as Brockville General, which is seeing nearly double its intended patient load in the emergency room. Edmonds vowed to fight for rural healthcare funding and resources, accusing the current government of abandoning rural Ontario.

4. Transportation & Infrastructure

Edmonds acknowledged the challenges faced by rural and suburban communities in securing adequate transportation and infrastructure funding. She criticized the Ford government for cutting municipal budgets, leaving local governments unable to address critical needs like road maintenance, bridges, and public transit.

Edmonds called for a re-evaluation of how municipalities are funded, particularly in rural areas with smaller tax bases but large geographic areas to maintain. She emphasized the need for provincial support to ensure that essential services, including transportation, are adequately funded. Edmonds also highlighted the importance of infrastructure planning to support growing communities, particularly as the population ages. She promised to work closely with municipalities to address these challenges and ensure that rural Ontario receives its fair share of infrastructure investments.

5. Accountability & Representation

Edmonds addressed the perception that the riding has been taken for granted by the long-standing PC government. She acknowledged the frustration of voters and promised to be a transparent and engaged representative at Queen’s Park. Edmonds said her commitment to listening to the community and incorporating their ideas into her work.

She highlighted her experience in community engagement and her collaborative approach to problem-solving. Edmonds also addressed the negativity she has encountered on social media, vowing to remain resilient and focused on her vision for the riding. She described Leeds-Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes as a “crown jewel” that is missing some of the gems, and she pledged to work with the community to identify and address its unique needs. Edmonds concluded by expressing her hope that her efforts would attract new residents and businesses to the area, ensuring its long-term prosperity.

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FIONA JAGER

Green Party Candidate

A Registered Nurse and Professor, with expertise in community outreach, mental health, and addiction. Passionate about advocating for social change to improve community health and wellbeing.

1. Ontario’s Economy & U.S. Tariffs

We need a Team Ontario approach that puts people before partisan politics to protect Ontario workers, jobs, and companies against the threat of tariffs. Our overreliance on the USA as a trading partner has put our economy in a vulnerable position. As we work to protect those most at risk from potential tariffs, we need to rapidly shift our supply chains to focus within Ontario and Canada, and to diversify our trading partners. 

Ontario Greens will put jobs first by:

• Immediately creating a “tariff taskforce” that works across party, jurisdictional, and sectoral lines to negotiate with the US on trade.
• Create an investment tax credit to unlock business investment in Ontario.
• Develop a “Buy Ontario” strategy and implement public procurement rules that support farmers and businesses in Ontario.
• Create a Protect Ontario Fund for businesses disproportionately affected by tariffs and make investments needed to build new supply chains.
• Immediately move to aggressively diversify our trade partners.
• Work with other provinces to remove barriers to interprovincial trade.

2. Cost of Living & Affordability

People in Ontario are working harder than ever before, but so many are still struggling just to get by. People are getting gouged on the cost of housing, groceries, fuel, and more. Big corporations and billionaires are doing better than ever and Doug Ford is propping them up. Greens will put people over profits to bring down the cost of living. 

Ontario Greens would:

• Introduce strict anti-gouging and collusion laws to stop grocery chains from gouging people on their grocery bills.
• Lower taxes for low- and middle-income earners and raise taxes on the wealthiest.
• Stop giving hydro rebate cheques to the wealthiest Ontarians and redirect that money to help low- and middle-income earners pay their bills.
• Increase the minimum wage to $20 and index to inflation each year.
• Phase in a Basic Income, with the first step being to at least double Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) rates and get rid of aggressive and unfair claw-backs, including claw-backs from the Canada Disability Benefit.

3. Healthcare & Rural Services

People used to be drawn to Ontario in part because of its world-class public healthcare system. Now, they’re lining up around the block overnight just to register for a family doctor. Our healthcare system is in crisis, but the Ford government continues to privatize it. Ontario’s healthcare system is the lowest funded per-capita of any province. Ford’s Bill 124 debacle, which capped public sector pay rises at 1% per year before being overturned, destroyed morale among nurses. 

As a professor of nursing at St Lawrence College I see the reality of our healthcare crisis every day with the situations my students are put into due to inadequate staffing levels. 

A worrying trend is developing of municipalities funding incentives to recruit healthcare workers to their area, competing with other municipalities in an inequitable race. Communities should not have to fight each other for healthcare workers. 

Ontario Greens will address the crisis of caring by hiring more nurses, doctors and PSWs, addressing gaps in rural access and reversing Ford’s privatization.

Ontario Greens will:

• Recruit 3,500 more doctors in Ontario through more medical school spots and more residency opportunities for international medical graduates so that every person has a primary care provider within 3-5 years.
• Stop future and reverse Ford’s investor-driven privatization of the healthcare system
• Increase provincial funding for rural hospitals and cut the local cost share for funding new hospitals in half
• Expand and provide start-up funding for family health teams across the province with a wider variety of care available (SWs, addictions care, physio, etc.)
• Provide equal pay for nurses, doctors, and PSWs across all communities and healthcare settings in Ontario to increase capacity in rural areas, and compensate healthcare workers fairly for their travel to treat patients at home

4. Transportation & Infrastructure

The province has downloaded far too many costs onto municipalities who have limited means to raise funds. Property tax is a regressive tax that is not based on ability to pay. Doug Ford puts all his time and money into pet projects in the GTA such as ripping out bike lanes or building Highway 413, while leaving rural communities to fend for themselves. 

• Implement a $2 billion-a-year Climate Adaptation Fund to help municipalities make their infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
• Create a new long-term and predictable municipal funding transfer for rural and northern communities to improve local roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
• Expand electric grid capacity in rural areas so that we can attract business investment and job creation while making sure rural residents can take advantage of money saving opportunities from heat pumps and electric cars and trucks.
• Increase investments in social infrastructure to clear the repair backlog for public schools and ensure affordable child care is available to rural families.

5. Accountability & Representation

Our First Past the Post system means that in many ridings the majority of the electorate do not get the representation they voted for. People are disillusioned and cynical about politics. People want representatives who listen to them and work for them, rather than for corporate interests. 

Doug Ford and Steve Clark oversaw the $8-billion Greenbelt scandal where they spent four years promising to protect the Greenbelt only to try and open it up to developers almost immediately after the 2022 election. Not only did they flat out lie to the electorate, land in the Greenbelt was parcelled out to benefit Ford’s fat-cat developer buddies to the tune of billions of dollars. RCMP are still investigating this scandal, and news broke today of a similar scandal also under Clark’s watch as housing minister involving the same chief of staff that was involved in the Greenbelt scandal.  Ford and Clark have tried to dodge any accountability for these scandals and RCMP must widen their Greenbelt investigation to include all re-zoning decisions made while Clark was housing minister. 

Greens do politics differently. We are a people powered party and participatory democracy is a core value for Ontario Greens. This includes the way our party is run and policy is developed, and our commitment to electoral reform so the people of Ontario get the representation they actually voted for. Ontario Greens would convene a non-partisan Citizens’ Assembly to chart a path for electoral reform.

Unlike the other three parties, Green MPPs remain independent and are not forced to toe the party line. They can truly represent their constituents. Across the province, Green candidates are local champions. 

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CHRIS WILSON

New Democratic Party (NDP) Candidate

A finance and risk management professional. As a person living with chronic, late-stage Lyme Disease, he is an advocate for patients and people living with disabilities.

1. Ontario’s Economy & U.S. Tariffs

• Partner with Ontario employers and unions to protect jobs now; 
• Work with trade-exposed industries, like the auto industry, to provide direct support, creating new supply chains, and finding new export markets for their goods in Canada and abroad; 
• Support the auto sector to bridge any interruption in production and preserve Canadian auto jobs; 
• Promote interprovincial cooperation and break down trade barriers; Launch a Buy Ontario campaign to promote Ontario goods; 
• Direct Ontario government-funded agencies to procure locally; Negotiate a joint federal-provincial income assistance program to support people whose livelihoods are impacted by tariffs.

2. Cost of Living & Affordability

We will work to break up the monopolies on our key industries within our province, end collusion in the grocery industry, build more houses, invest in publicly owned utilities, and we will fund a school lunch program to help with the cost of groceries for families.

3. Healthcare & Rural Services

The Ontario NDP believes everyone should have an access to a doctor. We will work to eliminate restrictions on international doctors who want to practice in Ontario. We will work with the Ontario College of Physicians to increase the numbers of doctors being trained in our schools. We will end the corruption and back-door deals and use the funds saved to immediately fund our healthcare appropriately.

4. Transportation & Infrastructure

The Ontario NDP has pledged to help reduce the burden on Municipalities. We are uploading the costs from municipalities to the province in regards to homeless supports and shelter housing. Part of our defence plan against the possible tariffs is major infrastructure spending and worker re-training. We will work with the municipalities to fund a fair deal to share the costs of these projects to ensure stability in property tax bills. 

5. Accountability & Representation

This is my favourite question. The voters in Leeds-Grenville are being taken for granted. This happens when a riding votes for the same party. The individual MPP in these riding have very little influence within their own party because the leader could run anyone in their place and they would win. If this riding elects me, a hard-working, honest, family man, who is well known in the community to be an NDP MPP for this riding, I will be the most influential MPP in the party. I could potentially run for leader down the road. I see a bright future in Leeds-Grenville with someone like me as leader of the party of the working class, the only party that is working for the people. A government that is on your side.

Editor’s note: To the candidates: If we’ve missed you, or you have indicated that you will respond but have yet done so, please reach out – ljweir@pdgmedia.ca