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Perth-Wellington heads to the ballot … again




CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Not a month after the provincial election wrapped up on Feb. 27 this year, Perth-Wellington and the rest of Canada will be heading to the ballots once again.

On March 23, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced he had asked Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve parliament, instituting a snap election scheduled for April 28.

On the steps of Rideau Hall, Carney, who had only served as prime minister for 14 days at that point in time, alluded to his government’s most recent actions before asking the Canadian people for a stronger mandate to deal with U.S. tariffs and President Donald Trump’s threats to Canadian sovereignty – the same ask Ontario Premier Doug Ford had when he called the snap provincial election last month.

“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said. “Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada. President Trump claims that Canada isn’t a real country. He wants to break us so that America can own us. We will not let that happen.”

Nationally, Carney will face Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Quebecois Party Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Green Party Co-Leaders Jonathan Pednaeault and Elizabeth May, in addition to the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) Leader Maxime Bernier.

MP John Nater of the Conservative Party is the incumbent in this election. He has served as Perth-Wellington’s federal representative since 2015 when then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first formed this Liberal government. Since 2004, when the riding was first formed, it has been a Conservative hold with Nater’s predecessor Gary Schellenberger sitting as MP.

So far, David Mackey has been announced as the Liberal candidate for Perth-Wellington, his first time vying for a federal seat. Kevin Kruchkywich is again standing as the NDP candidate, as is Wayne Baker who is the candidate for the PPC. Representatives from the Green Party of Canada informed the Independent that Nathan Litt will be the Green candidate.

The period for nominations ends on April 7 and the final list of confirmed candidates will be available on the Elections Canada website on April 9.

Profiles on Nater, Mackey, Kruchkywich and Baker can be found on Pages 8-9. The Green Party did not respond to an interview request in time for press.

To vote in the federal election, residents will need to prove their identity by either showing a government-issued ID with a photo, name and current address (like a driver’s licence), or show two pieces of ID that collectively have a name and current address, such as a health card and bank statement, for example.

Additionally, if a resident doesn’t have ID, they can still vote by declaring their identity and address in writing and having a voucher with them that can prove their own identity and address. Vouchers can only vouch for one person, except in long-term care institutions.

Residents can register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at their local Elections Canada office – or at the polls right before voting.

Advance voting takes place from April 18-21. The address of residents’ appropriate polling locations can be found on voter information cards which will be delivered by mail, or on the Elections Canada website, www.elections.ca/home.aspx, after April 1.

Otherwise, election day is Monday, April 28. The address of residents’ polling locations can likewise be found on their voter information card or online after April 1.

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