Kitchener-Waterloo Byelection 2012

With the resignation of Elizabeth Witmer as the MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo to chair the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board – a spot has opened that if filled by a Liberal candidate would drastically change the political landscape of the province.

As a member of the Ontario PC Caucus, Witmer’s seat is now available and a byelection must be called within 6 months of the announcement.  Premier Dalton McGuinty has called the byelection for Thursday September 6th.  If the Liberal candidate is voted into the seat, the Ontario Liberal Party would then gain the seat they need for a majority government for the province.

If you have any questions about the local voting process you can also contact the Kitchener-Waterloo Returning Office.  They are located at 230 Regina Street North, Unit 1 in Waterloo (N2J 3B5).

The toll free number is 1-866-291-7966.

-Monday, August 27th at 2:00pm – Green Party candidate Stacey Danckert will join The Jeff Allan Show.
-Tuesday, August 28th at 2:00pm – NDP candidate Catherine Fife will join The Jeff Allan Show.
-Wednesday, August 29th at 7:00pm – The Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce candidates debate hosting by Glenn Pelletier of 570 News.  A special edition of The Michelle Dyer show will air immediately following the debate.
-Thursday, August 30th at 2:00pm – Liberal candidate Eric Davis joins The Jeff Allan Show.
-Friday, August 31st at 2:00pm – PC candidate Tracey Weiler will join The Jeff Allan Show.

Also, the 570 News candidate debate will be held on The Gary Doyle Show on Tuesday, September 4th from 9:00am to 11:00am.  Gary will be joined by 570 News Director Joe Pavia. That will be held in our studios and will feature candidates Eric Davis, Stacey Danckert, Catherine Fife and Tracey Weiler.  The debate will also be webcast as well on www.570news.com.

Ontario PC Party: Members of the Progressive Conservative Kitchener-Waterloo Riding Association have chosen Tracey Weiler as their candidate.

TRACEY WEILER:  Weiler is a Kitchener-Waterloo businesswoman, educator and community volunteer.  She is an independent business consultant and a regular instructor in the MBA program at Wilfrid Laurier University and has previously held positions with Research In Motion, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.  Recognized as one of Waterloo Region’s Top 40 under 40, Tracey is the Past President and Board Chair of Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre in Kitchener and is currently an executive member and the communications chair of the Electoral District Association for Kitchener-Waterloo’s, Member of Parliament, Peter Braid.  Tracey serves her community as a member of: the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Committee, Zonta Kitchener-Waterloo, and the Leadership Waterloo Region Alumni Council. In recognition of her community service Tracey was nominated as Rogers Oktoberfest Woman of the Year in 2011.  Tracey earned an Honours BA (Cum Laude) at York University, a Master of Information Studies at the University of Toronto, has completed her MBA (Finance) at Wilfred Laurier and is just completing her Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation.  Tracey is married, has two children and resides in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tweiler004
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/traceyweiler004
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/tweiler004

Ontario Liberal Party: Ontario Liberals have chosen Eric Davis as there representative.

ERIC DAVIS: Eric Davis, a local lawyer and dedicated community volunteer, has been nominated as the Liberal candidate in the provincial riding of Kitchener-Waterloo at a nomination meeting attended by over a thousand local Liberals.  “Kitchener-Waterloo families need a strong, proven voice inside government to fight for them. That’s what I’ve done with local organizations and hope to continue at Queen’s Park,” said Davis. “Working together we can we fight for and win the vibrant, prosperous future we all want.”  Eric Davis is a long-time Kitchener-Waterloo resident currently practicing municipal and planning law. A former Liberal candidate, Davis has been a tireless community volunteer, working with both the Canadian Mental Health Association and currently with the United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo.  Davis is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier, and he and his wife, Cynthia, have a young daughter, Isabella.  “I want to thank the other candidates for putting their names forward and for their dedication to public service,” said Davis. “I look forward to working together and fighting to make sure we build the strong community local residents and families deserve. Only Ontario Liberals have the plan to create jobs, keep local health care strong and give our kids the best start in life.”

Ontario NDP: NDP members  have chosen Catherine Fife.

CATHERINE FIFE: From www.catherinefife.com/bio
Neighbours, for the past ten years I’ve been working in our community, most recently as the Waterloo Region District School Board chair. I balanced a multi-million dollar budget in an organization serving 60,000 students and 5,500 staff.  I am running in this election because now, more than ever, Ontarians are looking for leadership that delivers results. This election gives the citizens of Kitchener–Waterloo the opportunity to choose an MPP who is committed to hard work, social responsibility, and building a sustainable local economy. From my years of public service, I know first hand that it is possible to find the savings necessary to address the needs of our community – at no extra cost to taxpayers. I commit to work every day to deliver results for our families in Kitchener–Waterloo. As a mother, I understand how critical it is to have a responsible plan for the future that balances our fiscal responsibilities with our community needs. As your representative at Queen’s Park, I will work with Andrea Horwath and our team of New Democrats to ensure we deliver those results.

Ontario Green Party: The Green Party candidate is Stacey Danckert.

STACEY DANCKERT:  Danckert says she has a deep passion for protecting the environment and the future of her two sons.  Stacey recently received her PhD in Psychology, her research being focused on exploring the bases of memory in and consequences of aging on the brain.  Her training as a scientist has provided her with the skills required to be a good candidate for the Green Party.  Stacey has sat on the Environmental Advisory Committee for the Kitchener City Council and has loved watching various positive plans become implemented. She wants to do more for her great community and affect positive change. She is convinced the GPO’s forward-thinking approach and policy platforms are the way to move forward. She shares the goal of creating a strong economy with an emphasis on environmental sustainability.  Stacey wants to work with the communities of Kitchener-Waterloo to make the riding a great place in which to work and live.

Independent: Garnet Bruce

The People: Kevin Clarke
www.peoplespoliticalparty.net

Ontario Libertarian Party: Allan Dettweiler

Freedom Party of Ontario: David Driver
www.freedomparty.on.ca

Communist: Elizabeth Rowley

Paupers: John Turmel

As the 2012 byelection approaches, voters in the riding of Kitchener-Waterloo will once again have a significant say in the way Ontario is governed going forward.  With so much riding on the decision, 570 News is well aware of how important “information” is when it comes to you making an informed decision.

Here is our coverage page for the Kitchener-Waterloo riding from the 2011 Provincial Election.

With that in mind, 570 News Radio and 570News.com will continue to be the best sources in the Region for all things election.

According to Elections Ontario – here are some of the key details you need to know in advance of the Kitchener-Waterloo Byelection.

WHO CAN VOTE
Eligible voters are any person over the age of 18, who is a resident of the electoral district and a Canadian citizen.  More information about who can vote is available by following this link.

THE ONTARIO VOTER’S LIST
Voters who have records on the Ontario Voter’s List will receive a Notice of Registration Card which informs voters of when and where they may vote in advance and on election day.  Voters who are not registered on the Voters List may register when they arrive to cast their ballot.  These voters can find out where to vote by calling Elections Ontario toll free (1-866-ONT-VOTE) or visiting the “Where do I Vote?” web application which will be launched during the election period.

IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The required identification is the same as what is required during a general election. The list of acceptable identification is available by clicking here.

HOW TO VOTE
Eligible voters can cast their ballot at any advance poll voting location before election day, or at their designated election day voting location. Voters can use assistive voting technology that features:
-Audio headphones
-Tactile buttons
-Large keypads marked with Braille
-Paddles
-A “sip and puff” device

More options for voters with disabilities include casting their ballot from home by requesting a home visit from two Special Ballot Officers.  Electors may also choose to vote by mail using a Special Ballot.

For voters who choose to cast their ballot in person, both advance polls and election day voting locations are selected to meet the specific criteria of our Site Accessibility Standards.

Follow this link for an overview page from Elections Ontario on everything you need to know as a voter.

While the date for the Kitchener-Waterloo Byelection has not yet been announced, keep it locked on 570 News for the latest on the campaign trail and the candidates and leaders who continue to search for your vote.

And remember you can log on anytime to our website for up to the moment information on the race to the 2012 Kitchener-Waterloo Byelection.