It's time to vote in the Kitchener Centre provincial byelection

People living in Kitchener Centre will head to the polls Thursday to choose a new MPP.

There are a record-breaking 18 candidates on the ballot the highest number ever in an Ontario election.

The byelection is being held after former MPP Laura Mae Lindo stepped down from the role in July.

Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at various locations in the riding. Elections Ontario sent voter cards in the mail earlier this month with voting locations.

If people did not receive a voter card, they can search for their voting location on the Elections Ontario website using their postal code.

Race a 'thermometer' for provincial politics

Local political scientists say it should be an interesting race to watch because there doesn't appear to be a clear winner as campaigning winds down.

Andrea Perrella,an associate professor of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, saidKitchener Centre is a "thermometer" for what's happening in the province.

"We'll see if the Conservative vote shrinks in light of some of the scandals and some of the negative press coverage that the [Premier Doug] Ford government has received," he said, noting in particular concerns about the Greenbelt were raised by people in this riding.

He said it will also be interesting to see the degree of support the Liberals get.

"Now the Liberals are still not an official party at Queen's Park, so they have a lot of ground to cover and maybe Kitchener Centre offers a bit of an idea as to how much ground they have covered since the last election," Perrella said.

2 city councillors in race

Robert Williams, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Waterloo, saidhe'll be watching to see how the Green Party does when the votes are counted.

He said that's because Kitchener Centre has a federal member of Parliament with Mike Morrice, and the party's leader, Mike Schreiner, is also the MPP for Guelph.

"I have been struck by the number of signs that have gone up in the areas that I've seen," Williams said.

Perrella agreed, noting if Green candidate Aislinn Clancy, a current city councillor, were to win, "Kitchener Centre would probably be considered the most Green seat in all of Canada."

Williams noted the NDP hasfaced some controversy, including when the partyoustedHamilton-area MPP Sarah Jama from its ranks in October over comments she made about the Hamas-Israeli conflict and the Kitchener Centre NDPriding association writing an open letter to Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles calling on her to resign.

So, he said, it will be interesting to see the level of support Debbie Chapman has on the ground within the riding.

"In terms of name recognition, Debbie Chapman would have that because she is at least a two-term member of council and the seat has been held by the New Democrats," he said.

CBC Kitchener-Waterloo will have coverage of the results Thursday night on its website.