Voter prep: What Cambridge voters need to know in this provincial election

Candice Rodricks says climate change is the issue she's thinking about the most in this Ontario election.

"Climate change is a huge thing that stresses me out every day. It's something I think about in the morning when I wake up.I'm like:the world's going to end," saidthe 18-year-old who attends St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge. Shewill vote for the first time in this election.

"Our generation is inheriting this world and we're inheriting this society and so I think it's really important that even though we're not full adults yet, the decisions that our government is making right now [are] going to affect our future."

Cambridge voter Manny Temple says their top issue is housing and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), which needs to increase the financial assistance it provides to people.

"We don't have enough to live on," Temple says.

They receive $1,169 a month through ODSP. Of that, $482 is supposed to be for rent. While they have a roommate, rent is still $497.

"That doesn't leave us a lot to have between doing laundry, hygiene items, groceries what do I do?Do I buy a T-shirt or a pound of hamburger?" Temple said.

John Newton says COVID-19 showed cracks in the health-care system.

"It's pretty apparent that we need more investment," Newton said.

The Cambridge dad said education is another source of stress; he doesn't think teachers are supported in the work they do in the classroom, and remote learning made school difficult for teachers, students and parents.

"Just seeing my daughter struggle with learning, it's been challenging for myself and my wife to have to do all the extra work," he said.

In a survey on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's website about top election concerns, another issue raised by people in Cambridge included the use of ministerial zoning orders to speed along development, particularly a warehouse project in Blair, and how it went against the wishes of residents.

Incumbent creates new party

In 2018, Karahalios was elected to the provincial legislature as a member of the Progressive Conservatives. She was removed from the PC caucus in July 2020 after she voted against against Bill 195, a government motion to extend some COVID-19 emergency orders a month at a time for up to two years without consulting the legislature.

At the time, Karahalios released a statement saying she voted against the bill because it "essentially silences every single Ontario MPP on the most important issue facing our legislature."

Premier Doug Ford said he had no idea Karahalios was going to vote against the Progressive Conservatives, even though he had made a stop in the region a few days prior to the vote.

After being expelled from caucus, Karahaliosformedthe New Blue Partywith her husband, Jim Karahalios. She serves as the party's president.

In an interview in November 2020, Belinda Karahaliosexplained whythey decided to form a new party.

"Really there is no party in the Ontario legislature defending the taxpayer, defending small business, defending places of worship, promoting freedom, promoting democracy or fighting political corruption," she said at the time.

In October 2021, Karahalios said that a new rule that all MPPs must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test "disgraceful" and "undemocratic."

The following month Karahalios reported she had tested postive for COVID-19.

In December, Karahalios returned to work in-person at Queen's Park and was told to leave the legislature. That's because Speaker Ted Arnott said there was a rule that unvaccinated MPPs must be out of the chamber for 90 days following a positive test.

Karahalios said she tested negative, so should have been allowed back into Queen's Park. She said on Twitter that her removal was "an affront to democracy."

CBC Kitchener-Waterloo recently asked the candidates what they wanted voters to know about them.

5 candidates

There are five people running in the Cambridge riding in this provincial election. They are, alphabetically:

• Carla Johnson, Green Party of Ontario.
• Belinda Karahalios, New Blue Party of Ontario.
• Marjorie Knight, Ontario New Democratic Party.
• Brian Riddell, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
• Surekha Shenoy, Ontario Liberal Party.

Political analysts have said Cambridge is a race to watch in this election because while Karahalios is the incumbent in the riding, and incumbents tend to have an edge, she is heading into this provincial election as the member of a newly-formed party.

Carla Johnson, Green Party

Johnson says most people know her because she is a teacher as well as a community volunteer.

"I worked so hard to make sure everyone understood that they were all there and they were all equal. And I was going to treat them all fair and whatever their needs were," she said.

"I saw families and students from all walks of life and was involved personally in many of their lives, seeing people that came with struggles, people that came with strengths, and it's all there in our community."

She says she would take that approach to her role as an MPP, if elected.

"My job is to advocate and bring you along and also to celebrate," she said. "I want Cambridge to see how hopeful and wonderful the community is."

Belinda Karahalios, New Blue Party

Karahalios said she thinks her "track record speaks for itself." She has been a vocal opponent of the consumption and treatment site in Cambridge and she voted against the PC party, which meant she was removed from caucus.

"That's OK because I was able to continue to represent Cambridge first as an independent and then with the New Blue Party of Ontario," she said in an interview.

"I am fighting to restore integrity and in the democratic process I have been fighting and will continue to fight to ensure that the voices of Cambridge are heard in Toronto."

Marjorie Knight, New Democratic Party

Knight, who is a family outreach worker, says she wants to help everyone in the community.

"I look at our legislature and I don't see myself reflected there. I see a lot of people of privilege, who have never struggled, who have never gone hungry, who have never been homeless, who have never worried what's going to come tomorrow," she said.

"I have done all of those, and I'm proud to say that I have managed step-by-step and hop-by-hop to get where I am today."

Knight says she has been on the side of the road to protest cuts "and I said to myself. I'm done with protesting across the road. I want to be in the room. I want to be at the table. I want to be able to give the perspective."

Brian Riddell, Progressive Conservative Party

Riddell declined to attend the panel and the request for a one-on-one interview. In an emailed statement he said he is "a lifelong resident of Cambridge and understand what our communities need to move forward as we rebuild Ontario's economy."

He said the includes lowering costs for families, supporting workers and making investments to key infrastructure, including hospitals and long-term care homes.

"I will work tirelessly with Doug Ford and the PC team to continue building on their credible plan and proven ability to build more homes that Ontario needs, faster," he wrote.

Surekha Shenoy, Ontario Liberal Party

Shenoy said she's a long-time volunteer in the city.

"I'm very passionate about this community. I'm passionate about the needs of the people and I've been working on it for the last 12 years," she said, providing a long list of volunteer positions including with the hospital foundation, East Indian Community Walkathon, the food bank and with young professionals.

"I'm an engineer by profession. I did my MBA from Laurier here and I was successful in what I did. I worked on Bay Street looking after the small business portfolio for a financial institution and understand the challenges small businesses face," she said.

She said she doesn't want to be a career politician.

"I want to make a difference. I shall influence change," she said. "I feel Cambridge deserves a candidate like me."

Riding history

Cambridge has been a riding since 1975. The first Member of the Provincial Parliament for the area was Montgomery 'Monty' Davidson, a member of the NDP, who served until 1981.

William 'Bill' Barlow, a Progressive Conservative, served the riding from 1981 to 1987. He was followed by Mike Farnan, a member of the New Democratic Party, who served as the riding's MPP from 1987 to 1995.

The riding went to the Progressive Conservatives from 1995 to 2014. Gerry Martiniuk was the MPP until 2011 and Rob Leone was the MPP until 2014.

In 2014, Liberal Kathryn McGarry won the seat and held it for one term. McGarry is currently the city's mayor and has announced she's seeking re-election in the municipal election this October.

Voting day is June 2.

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