Voter prep: What Kitchener South-Hespeler voters need to know in this provincial election

Kitchener South-Hespeler a southern Ontarioriding of more than 105,000 people is experiencing a lot of growth in bothhousing and industry.

In a survey on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's website that asked people about their top issues in this provincial election, affordable housing and the housing market were among the top issues.

People also listed the environment, two-way, all-day GO train service from the region to Toronto and long-term care and home care reform as priorities.

6 candidates

There are six people running in the Kitchener South-Hespeler riding in this provincial election. They are, alphabetically 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.

Political analysts have said Kitchener South-Hespeler is a race to watch in this election because there's no incumbent.

Progressive Conservative Amy Fee, who was elected to represent the riding in 2018, is not seeking re-election.

During a panel discussion with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, candidates from the four main parties were asked what they wanted voters to know about them.

Jess Dixon, Progressive Conservative Party

Dixon did not attend the panel discussion and declined an invitation to a one-on-one interview.

In an emailed statement, she said she completed her law degree at the University of Ottawa and was called to the bar in 2014.

"I returned to Cambridge and began work as a provincial crown attorney in the Kitchener courthouse.I'm very involved in my local community and work directly with individuals to navigate the justice system and access services," she wrote.

"I have dedicated my career to supporting our community. The desire to have a positive impact has always been my driving force and led me to undertake this candidacy and run for MPP."

She highlighted a number of party promises, including to rebuild the economy with manufacturing jobs, building highways, removing road tolls, investing in the health-care system and putting "the dream of home ownership within reach for more Ontarians."

David Gillies, Ontario Party

In an interview about running for the Ontario Party, Gillies admitted he never saw himself as a politician.

"I feel like in Ontario, at least the last eight years, we've kind of had a lot of failed policies," he said.

He said he feels like the four major parties focus on "hot button issues that get people riled."

But that's not what people necessarily want, he said.

"It's about actually being on the street, being available for them to talk to and tell me their real issues."

Ismail Mohamed, Liberal Party

Mohamed said he is not a career politician but describes himself as "a community champion."

He's a father of four, a community worker whose work is to address issues of housing, education, and human services, and his wife is a registered nurse. He immigrated to Canada in 1993, lived in social housing and says now, he feels "very privileged" to be where he is and to be making a run for office.

He said the conversations he's having at the doors show that people are disconnected from politics.

"Who they're looking for is a community champion, and I've demonstrated that over the years," he said.

John Teat, New Blue Party

On the New Blue Party website, Teat says he graduated from a biotechnology program and has a realtor license. He says he and his family enjoy camping, beach days and travelling throughout the province.

His biography says that in 2019, "everything began to change" and that all level of governments "have consistently failed us."

"Rather than using common sense and a truly scientific approach, the people that are supposed to lead us panicked," his biography says. "The government turned on the people and stripped them of their fundamental rights and freedoms."

David Weber, Green Party

Weber, who has runfor the Green party in previous provincial and federal elections, said he's a former police officer who, during his 30 years with the Waterloo Regional Police Service, met people from different backgrounds.

"One thing that was very common is that everybody was suffering from mental health issues, and I was seeing a community that didn't support people with mental health issues properly. This is something that I believe very firmly that we needed to do better on," he said.

Mental health can contribute to people not being able to find housing, people self-medicating and in some cases that can lead people to criminal activity and ending up in jail.

"I wanted to serve the community in a way that would make a real difference in that regard," he said, adding his "very pleased" the Green party makes mental health a priority in its platform alongside addressing climate change.

He said the Greens would be able to "put pressure on the government to do what's right and what's necessary. We have no more time to wait on climate action, on poverty, on affordability, the housing crisis, education."

Joanne Weston, New Democratic Party

Weston, a school board trustee with the Waterloo Region District School Board, said she's the mother of three young adults who are looking to break into the housing market. She also has parents who are getting older, so she understands the concerns facing those generations.

"Education is very important to me personally as well, and I want to make sure that our education is set up for the future. We want to invest in kids," she said.

She said she's already worked to make change. After hearing at the doors that the NDP's promise for higher rates ofOntario Disability Support Program weren't enough, she took concerns back to the party and the NDP raised how much money it would allocate to the program.

"That is my role. I am here to advocate for the community," she said. "I've already done it with our party, and I will continue to do it. I'm running because I care."

Riding history

The riding of Kitchener South-Hespeler was created in 2018. Amy Fee, a Progressive Conservative, served as the riding's first Member of Provincial Parliamentbut 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 a news release 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 as the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, which oversees the Ontario Autism Program, when changes were made in 2019.

Fee's legislative 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 to teachers and students switching to remote learning.

In 2019, Fee was described as the driving 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.

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