Waterloo voters to consider high housing costs, impact of climate change in provincial election

Waterloo a riding of more than 110,000 is known for itstwo universities and thriving tech scene, but has also seen protests over the last four years on issues ranging from the environment to those unhappy with COVID-19 restrictions.

An estimated 4,000 people gathered in uptown Waterloo in September 2019 for the Global Climate Strike.

During COVID-19, Waterloo Town Square wasthe site for controversial rallies against COVID-19 restrictions and during protests in February to support similar events in Ottawa dubbed the trucker convoy or freedom convoy.

The city has seen home prices rise dramatically in the past four years while council has offered more funding foraffordable housing units.

The following candidates are on the ballot in Waterloo (in alphabetical order by last name):

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

Incumbent seeks another term

Catherine Fife, the NDP candidate, is the incumbent in Waterloo. She has held the seat since winning a byelection in 2012 whenlong-time Progressive Conservative MPP Elizabeth Witmer stepped down from politics.

Fife has held a number of critic roles for the NDP, both as official Opposition between 2018 and this year, and in previous years.

She has tabled private member's bills, including one to ensure senior couples have a right to live together in long-term care. The bill passed second reading in 2019, but was still at the committee stage when the legislature was dissolved for this election, meaning it will need to be reintroduced if it were to become law.

In 2021, Fife was accused by a Progressive Conservative MPP of misusing her legislative email for partisan reasons. Fife admitteda link to her party's websitewas included in the email by mistake and apologized for the error.

Riding history

The Waterloo riding, as it exists in this election, was formed in 2018. It was created from the riding of Kitchener-Waterloo, which existed from 1999 to 2018.

Prior to 1999, the riding was known as Waterloo North and dates back to Canadian confederation: it was established in 1867. The first Member of Provincial Parliament in Waterloo North was Liberal Moses Springer.

Before 2012, there were only 10 years where the seat wasn't held by a Liberal or Progressive Conservative.

That includes:

• Five years, between 1945 and 1948, when it was held by an independent Liberal named Nicholas Asmussen.
• A stretch from 1943 to 1945 when the seat was held by John Henry Cook of the Co-operative Commonwealth.
• Then from 1945 to 1948 Joseph Ignatino Meinzinger of the Liberal-Labour party was the MPP.

The Liberals held the seat between 1967 and 1990. In 1990, Liberal Herb Epp retired and that same year,Progressive Conservative Elizabeth Witmerwon the seat. Witmer held the seat until 2012.