WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS – A Fergus education worker and farmer has been chosen as the NDP candidate for Wellington-Halton Hills.
Simone Kent was nominated by the party Monday night and officially approved by Elections Ontario Wednesday evening to run in the upcoming provincial election.
Kent, originally from Etobicoke and now living just outside Fergus, is a school office coordinator and dairy farmer.
She is a first time candidate in the provincial election but previously ran for Centre Wellington council in 2006, sat on the township’s environmental committee, and was a director and later president of Jersey Ontario, a non-profit association for Jersey cow owners and breeders.
In an interview on Wednesday evening, Kent said it’s her experience working in education informing her politics and view point.
“I see firsthand the consequences of Doug Ford’s cuts to education, there’s less supplies, less equipment, less technology and the increasing need for special needs and mental health supports that are just not available due to a lack of funding,” Kent said on why she put herself forward for this election.
“I’m tired of living in a province where the government lies to its citizens. They say they support unions and then pass unconstitutional legislation to recede their right to bargain.”
She also pointed out the Greenbelt scandal, RCMP investigation, skyrocketing housing costs, emergency department closures and the overall rise in the cost of living as signs there needs to be a change in government.
“All these things were things Doug Ford promised to fix over the last seven years and he has not delivered,” Kent said.
The premier could have used his final year in power to make changes, but Kent said he instead decided to call an early election.
Because the riding does not have an incumbent MPP running — longtime PC MPP Ted Arnott is not seeking re-election — Kent said this gives her more hope for change in the riding which has generally elected Progressive Conservative.
“I think we’re ready for change,” Kent said. “Having an incumbent for 34 years, I think you get a little complacent over time, you get a little comfortable and insulated to what goes on outside the world of politics.”
With election day three weeks away, Kent said she’s in for a busy month of door knocking, boots on the ground work and going to as many town halls, debates and other meetings to get the word out there.
The NDP is the last major party to have a candidate announced in the riding.
Halton Hills councillors Joseph Racinksy and Alex Hilson are running for the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals respectively. Centre Wellington councillor and consulting firm owner Bronwynne Wilton is running for the Green Party and glass blower business owner and former Centre Wellington councillor Stephen Kitras is running for New Blue.