Kitchener South-Hespeler voters to elect new MPP in provincial election

Kitchener South-Hespeler a riding of more than 105,000 people is experiencing a lot of growth bothwith housingand industry.

It's home to theIP Park Industrial Campus that is expected to grow over the next 10 years given its proximity to Highway 401, while the communityof Hespelerhas seen a lot of development andnew home construction in the last several years.

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

• Jess Dixon, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
• David Gillies, Ontario Party.
• Ismail Mohamed, Ontario Liberal Party.
• John Teat, New Blue Party.
• David Weber, Green Party of Ontario.
• Joanne Weston, Ontario New Democratic Party.

No incumbent in riding

The riding of Kitchener South-Hespeler was created in 2018. Amy Fee, a Progressive Conservative, served as the riding's first Member of Provincial Parliament for the last four years, but announced in August 2021 that she would not seek re-election.

"As a single mother with four children, I feel my voice is critically important, especially on education, support for parents, women's issues, and social services. Sadly, I feel my opportunities to contribute to the community in this role are being outpaced by the increasing demands of my family," Fee said in arelease at the time.

"I am a mother first. Out of respect for the community, I feel the need to hand the reins to someone who can continue to represent Kitchener SouthHespeler with total dedication."

Fee came under heavy criticism from local parents and organizations, particularly those who support people with autism, after the provincial government made changes to the Ontario Autism Program. Fee served asthe parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, which oversees the Ontario Autism Program, when changes were made in 2019.

Fee'slegislative assistant quit over what he called"indefensible" changes to the program.

Fee's office was also the site of protests when teachers were on strike in early 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic led toteachers and students switchingto remote learning.

In 2019,Fee was described as thedriving force behind a move telling school boards across the province they had to develop policies and procedures surrounding students with service animals.Fee's son, who has autism, has a service dog.