The provincial riding of Nepean was held by Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod for nearly 20 years, but with MacLeod not seeking re-election, there are seven candidates who are looking to fill her spot.
The riding of Nepean is home to a population of 132,769, according to the 2021 census. It includes Barrhaven, Bells Corners south Ottawa stretching from Eagleson Road in the west, to the Rideau River in the east, to the train tracks north of Hunt Club Road in the north and Bankfield Road in the south.
Wanting his voice to count, John Milks already cast a mail-in ballot.
“I got a package in the mail and then the next day, I mailed it. Easy peasy,” he said.
His priority this election is the economy and the impact of U.S. policies.
“Balancing the budget would be nice,” he said. “And, of course, the American thing.”
Lindsay Germano says education and health care are important to her.
“I have three little kids ... so, a main priority for me is obviously education,” she told CTV News Ottawa. Germano would like to see proper pay for teachers, and said, “Health care is another huge priority for me.”
It’s an issue echoed by other residents.
“Health care and education, cuts to education, I’m worried about,” said Robyn.
There are seven candidates running to become the next MPP of Nepean:
Max Blair - Ontario NDP
Carmen Charbonneau - Ontario Party
John Kovach - New Blue Party
Alex Lewis - Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Sheilagh McLean - Green Party of Ontario
Tyler Watt - Ontario Liberal Party
Peter Westaway - Independent
MacLeod is not seeking re-election after winning six elections. The riding of Nepean was created from the old riding of Nepean-Carleton for the 2018 election.
“We came so close to winning in the last election, and the momentum is there,” said Liberal Candidate Tyler Watt. “My number one issue, obviously, is health care; that’s my bread and butter. We need to bring access of health care to people in the community, keep them healthy and at home and away from the hospital. That’s my main goal.”
Max Blair, running for the NDP, says, “I’m running in largest part because of my family. I’ve seen over the past decade, and even longer, just how much harder life has gotten for them. The biggest issues for me are, without a doubt, health care, housing and education. Our health-care system, like I said, is on life support. And without getting more family doctors and more supports in place, everything else just falls apart.”
Both Ontario PC candidate Alex Lewis and Green Party of Ontario candidate Sheilagh McLean were not available for interviews.
Other voters in the riding have various priorities, “The main thing for me is the environment,” said one resident.
“Affordability is, is a big thing for me. As, you know, young adult just trying to afford a home. But, beyond that, haven’t, made a decision on who I’m voting for yet,” said another resident.
Election day is Feb. 27. Advance voting is underway between Feb. 20 and 22.
