Kitchener-Conestoga voters to consider gravel pits, MZOs and transit in provincial election

Kitchener-Conestoga is Waterloo region's most rural riding and wraps around the east, north and west parts of Waterloo region.

The riding of more than 100,000 and includes three townships: Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot.

The townships have seen debates and conversations over gravel pits, aministerial zoning orderfor a housing development, concerns about transit including a long promised but yet-to-be delivered GO Train station in Breslau, as well as issues surrounding aging infrastructure.

The following candidates are on the ballot in Kitchener-Conestoga (in order by last name):

• Nasir Abdulle, Green Party of Ontario.
• Jason Adair, Populist Ontario.
• Mike Harris, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
• Jim Karahalios, New Blue Party.
• Karen Meissner, Ontario New Democratic Party.
• Elisabeth Perrin Snyder, Ontario Party.
• Melanie Van Alphen, Ontario Liberal Party.

Incumbent seeks 2nd term

Mike Harris Jr. is the incumbent in Kitchener-Conestoga. He is the son of former premier Mike Harris.

He replaced Michael Harris, of no relation, who served as the MPP for the area between 2011 and 2018. Michael Harris, who did not run in the 2018 election because he has beenremoved from the Progressive Conservative party, is currently a regional councillor.

Mike Harris Jr. was named the candidate in Kitchener-Conestoga in 2018 after he lost his bid for the nomination in Waterloo that year.

Harris served as the parliamentary assistant to the minister of natural resources and forestry and also advocated forOntarioschool buses to be retrofitted with the eight lamp amber-red warningsystem to makestopped school buses easier for other drivers to see.

Riding history

The riding of Kitchener-Conestoga has existed since 2007.

The first Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding wasLiberalLeeanna Pendergast. She lost to PC candidate Michael Harris in 2011.

Michael Harris served the riding until he was removed from the PC caucus in April 2018.