LAURIE WEIR

Rob Rainer, Reeve of Tay Valley Township and a leader in the non-profit sector, has been officially nominated as the Ontario Liberal candidate for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. The announcement took place on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Maberly Community Hall in his home community of Tay Valley Township.

“At a nomination meeting held at Maberly Community Hall, here in my beautiful home community of Tay Valley Township, I was honoured to accept the nomination as the Liberal candidate for the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston (LFK) riding to contest the next provincial election,” Rainer said.

Bonnie Crombie, Leader of Ontario’s Liberals, praised Rainer: “Rob is a different calibre of candidate — a strong community leader, reeve of a major township, and hardworking resident with deep roots in the community. I know that Rob will be a tremendous addition to our team as we fight to deliver more for healthcare, education, and more for you.”

Rainer also addressed the current government’s record, stating, “Under Doug Ford’s watch, more than a million people in Ontario used food banks over 2023-2024. This record-breaking number reveals the failure of the Ford government to address the cost of living, housing, and food security crises, which in turn are straining health and social services. Ontario can and must do better to meet the immense challenges of today’s world, be they social, economic, or environmental. I’m running with the Ontario Liberal Party and our Leader, Bonnie Crombie, to be part of the team which will help make life more affordable and secure for millions of Ontarians. I will help build healthy, vibrant, and resilient communities across our beautiful province.”

Born in North Vancouver, BC, Rainer has lived across Canada, including New Brunswick, Québec, and Ontario. His professional background includes roles as a sawmill and warehouse labourer, outdoor education instructor, letter carrier, executive director of six non-profits, and municipal politician. Elected as a Councillor in Tay Valley Township in 2018 and as Reeve in 2022, he also co-represents the Township on Lanark County Council.

Rainer has received numerous accolades, including being one of 15 Canadians selected for an international leadership program in 1997, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his work on poverty issues. In 2013, he reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.

An avid reader and outdoor enthusiast, Rainer also enjoys music. He plays guitar, sings in community ensembles, and has organized concerts featuring world-class musicians. He values respect, compassion, social equity, and environmental stewardship.

“I am grateful to and wish to thank those who signed my nomination papers, and to Sherri Sauvé and Bill McDonald for formally nominating me on Saturday. I also wish to thank the LFK Provincial Liberal Association for positioning for the strongest possible campaign that we can run, heading toward the provincial election which is anticipated to be held in the spring of 2025. And thanks to the many citizens around LFK who have thus far offered support for this campaign and my candidacy – it is deeply appreciated,” Rainer said.

He added, “Health care. Long-term care. Hospice. Education. Child care. Housing. Income security. Farming and food security. Transportation. Energy and climate. Freshwater, forests, wetlands, and species at risk. These are among the key areas that I, as potentially LFK’s new MPP, would wish to work on alongside my fellow Liberal caucus members – and ‘across the aisle’ with other elected members of the provincial legislature. I am dedicated to politics as public service and to realizing tangible improvements in the quality of life for everyone in our riding and across Ontario.”

Should Rainer win the election, he will step down as reeve of the Township of Tay Valley.