Waterloo’s Riding Candidates Reveal their Top Priorities for a Post-Pandemic Canada

Photo by Darien Funk

It won’t be long before Canadians cast their ballots to vote in the next prime minister on Sep. 20.

Whether you vote in-person or by mail, you will have to write the name of the candidate in your regions’ riding that, if elected, will represent their party as an MP in the House of Commons.

In the region of Waterloo, the electoral riding currently consists of five candidates: Bardish Chagger; Liberal, Megahn Shannon; Conservative, Jonathan Cassels; NDP, Karla Villagomez Farardo; Green Party and Patrick Doucette; People’s Party.

Here is a closer look at who these candidates are, along with their top priorities aligned with their party’s vision for Canada’s post-pandemic recovery.

Bardish Chagger – Liberal

Raised in the Waterloo region and worked in the office of then MP Andred Telegdi and as a coordinator with the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre. While in parliament, Chagger was House leader, Minister of Small Business and Tourism and Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth. 

Platform

  • The environment
  • Economic security
  • Affordable daycare and housing
  • Reconciliation
  • Addressing racism and discrimination
  • Fighting COVID-19

Meghan Shannon – Conservative

Has a PhD from the University of Waterloo and for the last two years, as a policy director and advisor with the provincial government.

Platform

  • Cost of living and housing crisis
  • Mental health and addictions
  • Economy recovery and jobs 
  • Support for seniors and people living with disabilities
  • Environment and climate change
  • Fiscal responsibility

Jonathan Cassels – New Democratic Party

A self described activist and organizer who has led campaigns on election reform and also has had a decade of experience in financial services. 

Platform

  • Pharmacare
  • Affordable Housing
  • Climate Action
  • Election reform
  • Student debt relief

Karla Villagomez Fajardo – Green Party of Canada

A third-year political science student at WLU.

Platform

  • Climate change
  • A green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Housing affordability

Patrick Doucette – People’s Party of Canada

Spent most of his career marketing and selling computers and then becoming a real estate agent. He moved to Kitchener-Waterloo with his wife, and also ran a bed and breakfast in Kitchener called, Sunbridge Crescent B & B.

Platform

  • Ending small business lockdowns
  • Freedom of speech
  • Mobility rights

For more information, check out electionscadnada.ca and search the region of Waterloo in the “find my riding” search engine to learn more about the Waterloo district riding and candidates.

To learn more, visit https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-riding-profile-2021-1.6162838.

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