Waterloo region candidates talk climate change, housing and other top issues in Ontario election

This week, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo spoke with candidates running across the region to find out how they feel about top issues in this Ontario election.

Candidates from the four major parties were invited to take part in the panels. Questions were based on concerns raised in an online voter survey where local residents told us their priorities.

Not all the candidates were able to make the panels and somedeclined the invitation. When that happened, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo offered candidates one-on-one interviews. If those were declined, the candidates were sent questions by email.

The panels are below, as are links to the stories where written comments were included.

Advance polls are open now until 8 p.m. onMay 28.

Voting day is June 2.

Cambridge

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

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

Johnson, Knight and Shenoy joined CBC Kitchener-Waterloo for a panel discussion. Karahalios did a one-on-one interview by phone.

Listen | Cambridge candidates on the top issues:

Read more CBC coverage of the Cambridge riding:

Kitchener Centre

Five people are running in the Kitchener Centre riding in this Ontario election. They are, alphabetically:

• Peter Beimers, New Blue Party.
• Laura Mae Lindo, incumbent, New Democratic Party.
• Wayne Mak, Green Party.
• Jim Schmidt, Progressive Conservative Party.
• Kelly Steiss, Liberal Party.

Lindo, Mak and Steiss attended the panel.

Listen | Kitchener Centre candidate panel:

Read more CBC coverage ofthe Kitchener Centre riding:

Kitchener-Conestoga

Seven people are running in the riding of Kitchener-Conestoga in this Ontario election. They are, alphabetically:

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

Meissner was the only candidate to attend the panel. Van Alphen, who had been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, was unable to attend but agreed to a phone interview.

Listen | Kitchener-Conestoga candidates:

Read more CBC coverage of the Kitchener-Conestogariding:

Kitchener South-Hespeler

Amy Fee, a Progressive Conservative who was elected the Member of Provincial Parliament for this riding in 2018, HAS opted not to seek re-election this year.

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

• 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.

Mohamed, Weber and Weston attended the panel.

Listen | Kitchener South-Hespeler candidate panel:

Read more CBC coverage ofthe Kitchener South-Hespeler riding:

Waterloo

Eight people are running in the riding of Waterloo in this Ontario election. They are, alphabetically:

• Andrew Aitken, Progressive Conservative Party.
• Shefaza Esmail, Green Party of Ontario.
• Catherine Fife, incumbent, New Democratic Party.
• Peter House, Electoral Reform Party.
• Benjamin Hufnagel, Ontario Party.
• Christian Shingiro, Communist Party.
• Jennifer Tuck, Liberal Party.
• Volodymyr Voznyuk, New Blue Party.

Fife was the only candidate to attend the panel. Esmail, who had a prior commitment, and Tuck took part in one-on-one interviews.

Listen | Waterloo candidates on top issues:

Read more CBC coverage of the Waterloo riding: