VOTE 2022: What you need to know about the York-Simcoe riding, the candidates and issues

Yorkregion.com
May 17, 2022

Here’s what you need to know about casting your vote in the 43rd general provincial election on June 2.

Check back for regular updates.

THE RIDING:

The provincial York-Simcoe riding straddles both York Region and Simcoe Country, consisting of Georgina, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Georgina Island First Nation, East Gwillimbury, except south of Green Lane between Bathurst Street and Highway 404, and part of King Township north of Highway 9 and Davis Drive West.

York-Simcoe is about 1,100 square kilometres in size and is home to about 124,000 people, based on 2021 census data -- that’s about a 20 per cent increase in population compared to 2016.

The median age in the riding is 40 years old, and those aged 30 to 59 years old make up about 43 per cent of the riding’s population.

Georgina residents make up about 38 per cent of riding, followed by Bradford residents with 34 per cent and East Gwillimbury residents with 28 per cent.

THE RACE:

Green Party of Ontario -- Julie Stewart
Julie Stewart’s lifelong commitment to environmental sustainability drove her to run with the Green Party in York-Simcoe. Stewart is a proud educator, teaching students about environmental stewardship and eco-friendly action. Committed to sustainability and a zero-waste lifestyle, Stewart reduces her ecological footprint by gardening and growing her food. She supports local environmental charities and the LGBTQ2S+ community.

IF ELECTED, I PLEDGE TO … develop policies to protect Ontario’s wetlands, forests, and prime farmlands while crushing climate pollution. I will seriously address our climate crisis by investing in the jobs of the future, and building a new climate economy for Ontario to lead. I will fight to build livable, affordable, connected communities for Ontarians.

Libertarian Party -- Zachary Tisdale
Zachary Tisdale was inspired to enter politics after witnessing the vast government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, and due to concerns over the ever-increasing size and cost of our provincial government.

IF ELECTED, I PLEDGE TO … fight to reduce the size and cost of our provincial government and return economic and social power back to the people of Ontario through deregulation, lower taxes, reduced government spending, targeted infrastructure investments to address the housing crisis and population growth trends, and respect for individual rights and freedoms!

New Blue Party of Ontario -- Brent Fellman
Brent Fellman has coached hockey, basketball, and baseball in the community. He is a certified phys-ed, science, and math teacher with a diploma in civil engineering. He is a National Coaching Certification Program instructor, having trained hundreds of coaches. He ran a fence business and assisted his wife’s motel business for more than 20 years.

IF ELECTED, I PLEDGE TO … be an advocate of the people. I will stand up against lockdowns, school closures, and mandates, which have caused immense harm. I will listen and respond to my constituents, defend their rights, and encourage economic prosperity. I will serve the people, not rule them, and push back on government overreach.

Ontario Party -- Alana Hollander
Alana Hollander is a wife and mother of two who was born and raised in Newmarket before moving to Holland Marsh when she got married. She works part-time as an environmental technician while also home-schooling her children.

IF ELECTED, I PLEDGE TO … ensure that people's rights and freedoms will never again be infringed on in the future by the forcing of our children to wear masks in schools, the forcing of people to be vaccinated to keep their jobs, or by not allowing people to see their loved ones in the hospital.

Ontario Liberal Party -- Walter Alvarez-Bardales

Walter Alvarez-Bardales left Guatemala to escape war and poverty, and became a successful civil servant working in benefits for the Canadian federal government. Alvarez-Bardales holds an MBA, is a doctoral candidate in social sciences, and advocates for human rights, ethics, democracy, and people with disabilities. Alvarez-Bardales has been the recipient of multiple scholarships.

IF ELECTED, I PLEDGE TO … live a life of service to my community and its interests, with the understanding that philosophically, serving as an elected official is not a right, but the most extraordinary privilege. I will try to honour the people with my service day by day and put community first.

Ontario Moderate Party -- Franco Colavecchia
Has not responded.

Ontario NDP -- Spencer Ki
Has not responded.

PC Party of Ontario -- Caroline Mulroney
Has not responded.

THE ISSUES:

This election is chock full of pertinent issues for residents in the riding, from growth and development to transportation and protecting the environment.

The Bradford Bypass and Lake Simcoe Protection Plan are big ticket issues with lasting affects for the area.

A number of environmental groups and many residents are calling for an updated environmental assessment for the Bradford Bypass that includes a detailed impact on the health of Lake Simcoe.

Meanwhile, many residents along with local governments want to see the decades-long project a reality in hopes of easing traffic and congestion through the area.

Residents, municipal governments and environmental groups are also awaiting a decision from the province on the Upper York Sewage Solution project, which will see about 47 million litres of treated water dumped into the Lake Simcoe watershed on a daily basis.

The proposed water treatment facility, located in East Gwillimbury, will also allow for water and wastewater servicing of more than 150,000 new homes in East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Aurora.

BACKGROUND:

The York-Simcoe riding has been a conservative stronghold, voting in a blue MPP in every election since 2007 when the riding was established and aligned with the corresponding federal riding.

The late Julia Munro held the seat from 2007 when the riding was first established to 2018.

In 2018, Caroline Mulroney was elected. Mulroney is the incumbent MPP for the riding and is also the current minister of transportation and minister of Francophone affairs