Election Day in Ontario is fast approaching, and if you're unsure who to cast your ballot for, here is the list of candidates running in the riding of Perth Wellington.
CKNXNewsToday.ca reached out to candidates running for the Member of Provincial Parliament seat in the riding of Perth Wellington. Some candidates were reached directly. Communication was also attempted by sending the questionnaire to the political parties or the candidate's campaign manager.
Candidates were asked five questions. Each response is edited for clarity and brevity.
Matthew Rae (Progressive Conservative)
Question: Over the last couple of years, hospitals in midwestern Ontario have seen countless temporary Emergency Department closures and reduced hours. What will your party do to address these closures?
Answer: Our PC team has made record investments in our healthcare system, investing $85 billion this year alone, a 31% increase since 2018, while adding 3,500 new beds —more than the Liberals built in over 10 years. We have invested $44 million to support 165 high volume and smaller emergency departments, including Louise Marshall Hospital, $10 million to upskill 1,000 nurses to work in emergency departments, expanded the Learn and Stay Grant, and added a record 100,000 new nurses and 15,000 new doctors to our workforce since 2018. Together, these investments have improved reduced hours in hospitals by 84 per cent. If re-elected, I will continue to champion the delivery of better care in our community so families can continue to connect to the care they need, when they need it.
Question: Ontario continues to experience a housing shortage. While we need to build more homes, it is also vitally important that farmland be protected in this region. What specific steps would you take to make sure that both things are achieved?
Answer: Our PC team knows our area is rapidly growing and we want to be ready to build affordable homes to welcome families not just now, but for years to come. That is why we have redoubled our efforts to build even more homes faster by cutting red tape and streamlining approvals. We have introduced the new Provincial Planning Statement to provide municipalities with greater flexibility to build more housing and, through the Housing Enabling Core Servicing Stream, we are investing over $11 million to support the construction of up 2,705 new homes in Perth-Wellington. This investment builds on over $3 billion in housing enabling infrastructure we are investing to support new homes for families across Ontario. If re-elected, I will continue to work with our local municipalities, who know their communities and know where it makes sense to build homes, to ensure we are ready to welcome families to our community not just now but for years to come.
Question: It’s no secret that the cost of living has become, for some people, unmanageable. Without talking about your opponents’ policies, what would you do to alleviate the current burden on residents of your riding?
Answer: Only Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs have a plan to protect our economy, workers and families, in the face of U.S. President Trump’s tariffs while keeping life more affordable. Our PC team scrapped licence sticker renewal fees, saving the average family $280 annually. We extended the gas tax cut until June 2025, saving Ontario families $380 on average since 2022. A re-elected PC Government will make this tax cut permanent. We’re providing every eligible person in Ontario with a $200 taxpayer rebate. A re-elected PC government will continue to keep costs down for families in Perth-Wellington, and across Ontario.
Question: With the threat of tariffs looming, how would your party help local business, industry, and agriculture that ships products to the United States diversify their market approach?
Answer: Our PC Party is the only party with a plan to protect Ontario from the threat of Trump’s tariffs by protecting our families, our workers, and our businesses. A re-elected PC government will continue to build the infrastructure we need, whether it is roads, wastewater, rural broadband, or energy. We have a $200 billion infrastructure plan to build communities. We will invest in our workers, by investing an additional $1 billion in the Skills Development Fund, on top of the existing $1.5 billion. We will work to make Ontario the most competitive place to invest in and create jobs. If re-elected, I will continue to advocate for local agriculture and agri-food processing capacity across Perth and Wellington County.
Question: Some municipalities have raised concerns about the cost of OPP policing in their communities. What would your party do to help those municipalities?
Answer: Our PC team will always stand with our police forces, both OPP and municipal services. A re-elected PC government will continue to work with our municipal partners to keep our communities safe and continue to call on the federal government to implement meaningful bail reform. Our PC team provided our small and rural municipal partners that are served by the OPP with relief funding. Over $77 million in financial relief was provided across Ontario. Locally, municipalities in Perth-Wellington that rely on OPP services received over $3 million in relief funding.
Jason Davis (New Democratic Party)
Question: Over the last couple of years, hospitals in midwestern Ontario have seen countless temporary Emergency Department closures and reduced hours. What will your party do to address these closures?
Answer: The NDP created universal healthcare and if elected we can repair the damage that has been done to our system. These repairs start with a path to practice for 13,000 internationally trained doctors, implementing a patient to nurse ratio to prevent worker burnout and make sure patients are receiving the attention they require. We will also hire more nurses and stop relying on private for-profit nursing agencies which cost taxpayers more money.
Question: Ontario continues to experience a housing shortage. While we need to build more homes, it is also vitally important that farmland be protected in this region. What specific steps would you take to make sure that both things are achieved?
Answer: In 1993, the Federal government abandoned a national program for non-market housing, and provincial governments have not picked up the slack. It is long past time that we commit to building non-market again. It's important that we focus on building the housing that we need and not just building high-rises and single-family dwellings no one can afford. We need to build apartments that can fit a family, we need modest affordable homes for purchase, and we need a solution for those who are homeless. Every time we use public land and funding to build the wrong kind of housing, we are wasting our resources and our land. To protect farmland, we need to maximize the use of the land we have.
Question: It’s no secret that the cost of living has become, for some people, unmanageable. Without talking about your opponents’ policies, what would you do to alleviate the current burden on residents of your riding?
Answer: Since 2020 food bank use in Ontario has increased by 82%, we have major grocers raising prices and blaming inflation while their quarterly reports show record profits. The NDP is committed to installing a watchdog to enforce competition laws and stop price fixing. We will pass legislation to make grocers label price increases above 2% just like they label sales. Until wages catch up to inflation and the threat of tariffs has passed, an NDP government will provide a monthly grocery rebate for those who are struggling to put food on the table.
Question: With the threat of tariffs looming, how would your party help local business, industry, and agriculture that ships products to the United States diversify their market approach?
Answer: The good news is that Trump has picked a bad time to try and divide Canada, we learnt over the pandemic how to stand together and support local. As the threat from the south grows, I believe he will be surprised to find a nation united against this aggression. For agriculture in relation to the threat of tariffs the NDP has committed to remove the cap on the Risk Management program for farmers. We will work with trade-exposed industries to provide direct support in creating new supply chains, including promoting interprovincial co-operation and break down trade barriers.
Question: Some municipalities have raised concerns about the cost of OPP policing in their communities. What would your party do to help those municipalities?
Answer: The Ontario NDP believes municipalities should have greater oversight and control over police budgets and their implementation. With 1 in 3 911 calls now being in relation to mental health , an NDP government will overhaul the Police Services Act, with the goals of shifting responsibility for calls pertaining to mental health, addictions, and nonviolent community disputes from police forces to appropriately trained first responders such as our mobile crisis rapid response teams.
Ashley Fox (Liberal)
Question: Over the last couple of years, hospitals in midwestern Ontario have seen countless temporary Emergency Department closures and reduced hours. What will your party do to address these closures?
Answer: Hospitals in midwestern Ontario have faced frequent Emergency Department closures due to staffing shortages. To address this, we will expand the healthcare workforce by doubling medical school spots and adding at least 1,200 internationally trained doctors over four years. We’ll ensure fair, living wages for nurses and PSWs and introduce incentives to encourage healthcare professionals to work in rural areas. To improve working conditions and reduce burnout, we’ll streamline administrative tasks by eliminating outdated practices and enhancing virtual care. We’ll also invest in hospital infrastructure to expand emergency department capacity and introduce integrated, team-based care to ease pressure on Emergency Departments. These actions will help ensure midwestern Ontario hospitals can provide timely emergency care and remain open when needed.
Question: Ontario continues to experience a housing shortage. While we need to build more homes, it is also vitally important that farmland be protected in this region. What specific steps would you take to make sure that both things are achieved?
Answer: To balance affordable housing with protecting farmland and sensitive areas, we will focus on building within existing boundaries and using available land efficiently. A key example is the Perth-Huron United Way’s housing initiative with the Listowel Music Hall apartments, which demonstrates how thoughtful, community-driven projects can address housing needs without compromising agricultural land. Collaboration across all levels of government and respectful dialogue with planners are essential to ensuring smart, sustainable development.
We also need thorough engagement, transparency, and accountability in decision-making processes. By prioritizing housing needs alongside environmental protection and community input, we can create solutions that preserve our agricultural and natural resources while addressing the growing demand for affordable housing.
Question: It’s no secret that the cost of living has become, for some people, unmanageable. Without talking about your opponents’ policies, what would you do to alleviate the current burden on residents of your riding?
Answer: To alleviate the financial burden on residents, our plan focuses on making life more affordable through tax cuts and stronger support for both renters and homeowners. We will eliminate the 8% provincial portion of the HST on hydro and home heating bills, and reduce the personal income tax rate for middle-class families by 22%, from 9.15% to 7.15%. These measures will lower everyday costs, helping families make ends meet. We’ll also make renting more affordable by introducing fair, phased-in rent control and ensuring Landlord-Tenant Board disputes are resolved within two months. Additionally, we’ll establish the Rental Emergency Support for Tenants Fund to help vulnerable renters avoid eviction during financial crises. These actions will provide immediate relief and support to residents struggling with the rising cost of living.
Question: With the threat of tariffs looming, how would your party help local business, industry, and agriculture that ships products to the United States diversify their market approach?
Answer: To help Ontario businesses diversify their markets amid looming tariffs, we will introduce a Fight Tariffs Fund, offering lower-than-market interest rates to reduce borrowing costs, helping businesses protect jobs and invest. We’ll focus infrastructure stimulus on essential projects like hospitals, schools, roads, and transit, while ensuring taxpayer money is spent wisely, excluding American companies from procurement opportunities and reinvesting the savings into the economy. For small businesses, we’ll cut the small business tax rate by half, from 3.2% to 1.6%, and raise the threshold from $500,000 to $600,000, saving up to $18,000 annually for 275,000 small businesses. Additionally, we’ll work with other provinces to remove interprovincial trade barriers, fostering a stronger Team Canada approach.
Question: Some municipalities have raised concerns about the cost of OPP policing in their communities. What would your party do to help those municipalities?
Answer: To address concerns about the cost of OPP policing in municipalities, we will take a comprehensive approach that not only supports local law enforcement but also tackles the root causes of crime. We will invest in our police by ensuring they have the resources they need to keep communities safe. We’ll also work to fix the broken bail system and get our courts functioning more efficiently, ensuring that justice is served promptly. By supporting those facing mental health and addictions challenges, we will reduce the strain on police services and help individuals get the care they need. Additionally, we will double investment in Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams across Ontario to provide better support for those in crisis, alleviating pressure on law enforcement. Finally, we will focus on investing in the root causes of crime, such as mental health, housing, and education, creating a safer, more supportive environment for all Ontarians.
Ian Morton (Green Party)
Question: Over the last couple of years, hospitals in midwestern Ontario have seen countless temporary Emergency Department closures and reduced hours. What will your party do to address these closures?
Answer: This is a problem of epidemic proportions. We have entire communities losing their Emergency Rooms because they have been underfunded and as a result severely understaffed. The Green Party will aggressively work to rectify these issues in healthcare. We will work to hire more Doctors, Nurses, PSW’s and other important healthcare professionals. We will ensure that everyone has a primary care provider within 3-4 years. We will stop funding private, for-profit health solutions. The Green party will increase provincial funding for rural hospitals, including cutting their local cost share for funding new hospitals in half. We will expand scope of practice for community healthcare providers. We will create a new and integrated framework to deploy healthcare providers more effectively in rural areas. By providing equal pay for nurses, doctors and PSWs across all communities and healthcare settings in Ontario we will increase capacity in rural and remote communities. We must keep our Emergency Rooms open to ensure that our rural communities are getting the vital healthcare services they require. The Green Party will make sure that happens.
Question: Ontario continues to experience a housing shortage. While we need to build more homes, it is also vitally important that farmland be protected in this region. What specific steps would you take to make sure that both things are achieved?
Answer: The Green Party will build 2 million homes over the next 10 years, made up of missing middle housing, non-profit and co-op homes, with a commitment on staying within community boundaries in order to avoid urban sprawl into farmland and natural areas. We will freeze urban boundaries and reverse recent expansions. We will reverse the Ford government’s changes to the Provincial Planning Statement that encourage sprawl and instead prioritise housing where roads and sewers already exist, saving new infrastructure demands on municipalities. We will protect farmland with taxes and incentives to encourage developers to build within existing neighbourhoods. We will offer zero-interest loans for homeowners to add affordable rental units to their residence, to add to the housing we already have. We will reinstate the provincial brownfield remediation fund to build on former industrial lands within communities. We will incentivise the construction of housing on abandoned commercial properties, such as abandoned plazas and warehouses. We will insist upon reinstating upper-tier regional planning authority to ensure sustainable planning to protect agricultural and natural heritage. The Green Party will create an Ontario Foodbelt to permanently protect prime farmland from being lost to non-agricultural uses and ensure our food security.
Question: It’s no secret that the cost of living has become, for some people, unmanageable. Without talking about your opponents’ policies, what would you do to alleviate the current burden on residents of your riding?
Answer: This is about making lives better for all the people of our communities, and the province. The Green Party will immediately reduce taxes for salaries less than $65000, saving people approximately $1700 a year. We will phase in a Basic Income, with the first step being to at least double the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) rates and get rid of aggressive and unfair clawbacks, including clawbacks from the Canada Disability Benefit. We will introduce strict anti-gouging and collusion grocery laws to stop grocery corporations from gouging people on their grocery bills. The Green Party will increase the minimum wage to $20 and index to inflation each year. We will legislate equal pay for equal work and put an end to wage theft. We will stop giving hydro rebate cheques to the wealthiest Ontarians and redirect that money to help low- and middle-income earners pay their bills.
Question: With the threat of tariffs looming, how would your party help local business, industry, and agriculture that ships products to the United States diversify their market approach?
Answer: With so much economic uncertainty, we need a strong approach to helping business in Ontario. The Green Party will immediately create a ‘tariff taskforce’ that works across party, jurisdictional and sectoral lines to negotiate with the United States on trade. We will create an investment tax credit to unlock business investments in Ontario. We will develop a “Buy Ontario” strategy and implement public procurement rules that support Ontario businesses and farmers. The Greens will create a Protect Ontario Fund for businesses disproportionately impacted by tariffs. We will immediately and aggressively diversify our trade partners. We will work with other provinces to finally remove interprovincial trade barriers that have been stalled in talks for decades. We also need more jobs in our province to ensure everyone has the ability to have the life they want. The Green Party will invest in an Ontario strategy to create more jobs and prosperity by making Ontario a global leader in the $2 trillion green economy. We will fund colleges appropriately so that they can offer programs for training in the trades. We will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs by retrofitting 40% of existing homes and workplaces to net zero by 2035, and 100% by 2045. The Green Party has the plan to create jobs and protect business and families and ensure that we, as a province and individual communities thrive as we move forward.
Question: Some municipalities have raised concerns about the cost of OPP policing in their communities. What would your party do to help those municipalities?
Answer: The Green Party is committed to helping municipalities and the communities within them to afford the vital services they require to keep their citizens safe and healthy. To assist both the municipality and the police services the Green Party will provide dedicated and ongoing funding to municipalities to address the mental health and addictions crisis that often fall to policing to deal with. Through an implementation of a province-wide vacant homes tax municipalities will have more money to and not need to add to the tax burden of their tax base. We will upload costs to the province that had previously been downloaded onto municipalities like community housing, shelters, and transit funding in order to again reduce the municipalities costs so they are able to deal with other items they need to address. We all want safe communities to live in and through the Green Party policies, we will be able to return much needed revenue back to your municipality so they are able to properly cover the policing needs of their people.
James Montgomery (New Blue Party)
Question: Over the last couple of years, hospitals in midwestern Ontario have seen countless temporary Emergency Department closures and reduced hours. What will your party do to address these closures?
The New Blue Party of Ontario recognizes that the ongoing Emergency Department closures and reduced hours in Midwestern Ontario are a direct result of government mismanagement, staffing shortages, and excessive bureaucracy in our healthcare system. Our plan is to get our hospitals fully operational again by focusing on three key actions:
1. Rehire Fired Healthcare Workers – We will immediately bring back nurses and healthcare staff who were terminated due to unnecessary COVID-19 mandates. This will restore staffing levels and reduce the pressure on overworked frontline workers.
2. Expand Healthcare Choice – Our party supports allowing private healthcare options to help clear the backlog of procedures and reduce wait times. Patients should have the right to access timely care without being stuck in a failing one-size-fits-all system.
3. Cut Bureaucracy and Increase Efficiency – Instead of wasting money on administrative bloat, we will redirect resources to frontline care where they are actually needed—ensuring small and rural hospitals have the funding and staffing required to keep their doors open. Ontario’s healthcare system is broken, but it doesn’t have to be this way. By putting patients and healthcare workers first—not political agendas—we can restore reliable emergency care in Midwestern Ontario.
Question: Ontario continues to experience a housing shortage. While we need to build more homes, it is also vitally important that farmland be protected in this region.What specific steps would you take to make sure that both things are achieved?
The New Blue Party of Ontario believes that we can build more homes without sacrificing farmland by focusing on smart, responsible development rather than government-driven land grabs. Our approach includes:
1. Protecting Private Property and Farmland – We will end the expropriation of farmland without the consent of landowners. The government should not be forcing farmers off their land to make way for urban expansion. Instead, we will prioritize redeveloping underutilized urban areas and incentivizing higher-density housing where appropriate.
2. Streamlining Housing Development in the Right Areas – The province has plenty of space for housing without paving over farmland. We will cut red tape and unnecessary restrictions to fast-track homebuilding in existing urban centers, unused industrial zones, and transit-accessible locations—where housing is needed most.
3. Lowering Construction Costs – The current housing crisis is made worse by high taxes and excessive regulations that drive up building costs. We will cut Ontario’s HST from 13% to 10%, reduce development fees, and eliminate costly green energy mandates that make housing unaffordable. By protecting farmland while increasing housing supply through smarter policies, we can achieve affordable homeownership without jeopardizing Ontario’s agricultural future.
Question: It’s no secret that the cost of living has become, for some people, unmanageable. Without talking about your opponents’ policies, what would you do to alleviate the current burden on residents of your riding?
The New Blue Party of Ontario understands that many Ontarians are struggling with the rising cost of living, and we have a clear plan to put more money back in your pocket by focusing on lower taxes, lower energy costs, and financial freedom.
1. Cut Taxes and Provide Relief – We will reduce Ontario’s HST from 13% to 10%, with a long-term goal of eliminating it entirely. This means lower costs on everyday essentials like groceries, gas, and home heating.
2. Lower Energy Bills – We will take down costly wind turbines and shift to reliable and affordable nuclear and hydroelectric power, reducing electricity rates for families and businesses.
3. Reform Ontario’s Housing and Investment System – We will allow residents full access to their Locked-In Retirement Accounts (LIRAs) and remove excessive regulations that drive up housing costs. By making homeownership and investing more accessible, we will help Ontarians build financial stability.
4. End Wasteful Government Spending – We will scrap the $100 million taxpayer subsidy for political parties and defund establishment media, ensuring your tax dollars are spent on essential services, not political handouts. By reducing taxes, lowering energy costs, and eliminating wasteful spending, the New Blue Party will make life in Ontario more affordable for everyone—so you can keep more of your hard-earned money.
Question: With the threat of tariffs looming, how would your party help local business, industry, and agriculture that ships products to the United States diversify their market approach?
The New Blue Party of Ontario understands that looming U.S. tariffs threaten local businesses, industries, and farmers who rely on exports. Our plan focuses on strengthening Ontario’s economy, reducing reliance on single markets, and making it easier for businesses to compete globally.
1. Lower Business Costs to Stay Competitive – We will cut Ontario’s HST from 13% to 10%, reduce electricity rates by eliminating costly wind turbines, and provide tax relief to lower production costs, making Ontario’s industries more competitive in global markets.
2. Expand Trade Beyond the U.S. – Ontario businesses should not be solely dependent on the U.S. for exports. We will work to open new trade opportunities with Europe, Asia, and emerging markets, while also supporting domestic buyers to keep Ontario’s economy strong.
3. Support Innovation and Manufacturing Growth – By reducing regulatory burdens and cutting red tape, we will allow local industries and farmers to expand, modernize, and find new markets without government interference holding them back.
4. Protect Ontario Farmers and Food Security – We will stop the expropriation of farmland and remove unnecessary environmental regulations that make it harder for farmers to produce and sell their goods competitively. Keeping Ontario’s agricultural sector strong is key to economic resilience. By lowering costs, expanding trade opportunities, and eliminating red tape, the New Blue Party will help Ontario businesses, industries, and farmers thrive—no matter what happens with U.S. tariffs.
Question: Some municipalities have raised concerns about the cost of OPP policing in their communities. What would your party do to help those municipalities?
The New Blue Party of Ontario recognizes the financial burden that OPP policing costs place on municipalities. Our plan prioritizes cost efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring communities receive the policing services they need—without excessive financial strain.
1. Reduce Government Waste to Free Up Funding – We will scrap the $100 million taxpayer subsidy for political parties, defund establishment media, and cut unnecessary green energy programs, redirecting savings to essential services like policing.
2. Audit and Reform OPP Funding – We will conduct a full audit of OPP expenditures to identify areas where money is being wasted. By reducing bureaucracy and administrative overhead, we will ensure that more funding goes directly to front-line policing, not inflated operational costs.
3. Strengthen Community Safety Without Raising Costs – We support the creation of an Ontario Bill of Rights and tougher laws to protect Ontario’s youth from crime and exploitation. By investing in crime prevention strategies, we can reduce the burden on policing services while keeping communities safe.
4. Respect Municipal Budgets – We will work with local governments to explore cost- sharing options and efficiency improvements that reduce the financial pressure on municipalities while maintaining effective law enforcement. By cutting government waste, reforming OPP funding, and prioritizing community safety, the New Blue Party will help municipalities manage policing costs without compromising security.
**also running in the riding are Rob Smink (Freedom Party), and Sarah Zenuh (Ontario Party). The questions have been sent to Zenuh. Their answers will be added once they are recieved. CKNXNewsToday.ca was unable to find contact information for Rob Smink.