St. Catharines riding profile
The provincial riding of St. Catharines has been represented by Liberal Jim Bradley since 1977.
The riding, with 111,690 people, includes most of the Garden City, save for the southern end which is part of the Niagara Centre riding.
Candidate profiles (alphabetical order, by surname)
Sandie Bellows, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Age: 57
Occupation: Sales executive, St. Catharines city councillor
Family: Two sons; Spencer and Colton De Wolfe
Previous political experience: 2014-present: St. Catharines city councillor — Grantham ward; 2011: St. Catharines Ontario PC candidate
Community work: Executive board Crime Stoppers of Niagara, executive board Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, past vice-president of
St. Catharines Minor Hockey Association, Big Sister (Big Brothers Big Sisters), national victims rights advocate
Top issue: Making life more affordable for everyone.
Why are you running: To be a strong voice for families and residents who deserve a government that works for them.
Why should voters choose you: Experience as effective representative on city council; dedicated community volunteer supporting local events, youth sports and victims rights; enthusiasm to continue delivering for our community and bring our priorities to Queen’s Park.
Contact info: Facebook: Facebook.com/Sandiebellowspc, Phone: 905-684-2323, campaign office: 211 Martindale Rd. (Huntington Square)
Jim Bradley, Liberal Party of Ontario
Age: 73
Occupation: Member of provincial parliament
Family: two brothers and one sister
Previous political experience: Minister of environment, transportation, community safety, municipal affairs and housing, tourism and recreation, seniors secretariat, chair of cabinet, government House leader, interim leader of the opposition, city councillor, teacher
Community work: I have been a hockey and football coach, a member of the Grantham Optimist Club and worked closely with and on behalf of many volunteer and service organizations for the betterment of our community, contributing to and assisting with fundraising activities.
Top issue: Creating further improvement to healthcare services, support for education initiatives, protecting the environment, public health and safety and creating new and innovative job opportunities.
Why are you running: To preserve and improve vital public services, work toward fairness for all, protect and preserve our environment and bring jobs and prosperity to St. Catharines and Niagara.
Why should voters choose you: I am a representative you know and can trust to work in a determined, constructive and non-partisan way for St. Catharines and with the vast experience and proven record to achieve what is best for our community and its people.
Contact info: 289-362-4742, website: www.VoteBradley.ca, Twitter: @jim_bradleympp, email: info@votebradley.ca
Jim Fannon, None of the Above Party
Age: 49
Occupation: Realtor (1992), founder Nature’s Hempfoods (2001), founder The Commission Coach (2015), creator and host of The Jim Fannon Show (2003)
Family: Single. Father Jim and brother Bill.
Previous political experience: Ran as a candidate in the following elections: 1993 Green Party of Canada, Niagara Centre; 2003 Green Party of Ontario, St. Catharines; 2003 Merritton Ward, St. Catharines; 2004 Green Party of Canada, St. Catharines; 2006 Green Party of Canada, St. Catharines; 2006 Green Party of Canada, party leader; 2008 Green Party of Canada, St. Catharines; 2014 mayor, St. Catharines; 2015 Green Party of Canada, St. Catharines
Community work: Central Community Church video director, Central Youth Movement mentor, Central Kids Ministry, Childminding Services, Landmark Education (course leader support), Ontario Real Estate Association (leadership), 2008 Green Party of Ontario provincial executive, 2009 Niagara Association of Realtors board of directors/chair public relations, 2010 Niagara Health System It’s Our Time Campaign
Top issue: Democratic and electoral reform: proportional representation, None Of The Above as a voting option on the ballot. Recall. Referenda.
Why are you running: To give disenfranchised and frustrated voters another option on the ballot that cannot decline their ballot secretly.
Why should voters choose you: I have long been, passionate about bettering my community and my opinions have always been public.
Contact: Call or text 905-9341110, email realestate@teamniagara.ca, Twitter @jimfannon https://twitter.com/jimfannon, Facebook: https://bit.ly/2xLdr0O
Colin Andrew Ryrie, Green Party of Ontario
Age: 33
Occupation: International marketing and student recruitment
Family: Mom (Margaret), dad (John) and two brothers (Kevin and David)
Previous political experience: president of St. Catharines Green Party of Ontario CA
Community work: Volunteered in many charitable local events such as Relay for Life, Rotary TV Auction, and Pitch-In events to clean up our city.
Top issue: Reducing electricity rates
Why are you running: Because I see the quality of life being eroded in Ontario, particularly for people of my age and those younger than me. I want to solve the financial and environmental messes that have been created by previous governments.
Why should voters choose you: Because our democracy will continue to decay and atrophy if we vote for the same parties over and over again expecting different results. It’s time for new life and new ideas in our democracy.
Contact info: Phone 289-9685967, email: colin.ryrie@gpo.ca, website: gpo.ca/candidate/colinryrie, Facebook: Colin Ryrie, Twitter: @ColinRyrie.
Jennie Stevens, New Democratic Party of Ontario Age: 54
Occupation: I’m a city councilor for Ward 1-Merriton in St. Catharines and a frontline service worker at Hotel Dieu Shaver.
Family: My husband Jim and I have two children, Sharlotte and Mark, and two beautiful grandchildren.
Previous political experience: I’ve been proud to serve as the council for Merriton. I work with staff, residents, community reps and councillors across all political stripes to get things done in our community.
Community work: I’m a proud board member of the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre and a proud associate member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Top issue: Health care: For years, we’ve had patients treated in hallways because there aren’t enough beds, we’ve had elderly people rushed to hospital by ambulance only to be forced to wait — in some cases over 24 hours — in uncomfortable chairs in emergency room hallways. I think the people of St. Catharines deserve better.
Why are you running: As someone who spent years on the frontline staff of Hotel Dieu Shaver, I know firsthand the impact of devastating cuts to our health-care system. I lived through Mike Harris’s PC government and their cuts. The only people who suffer from devastating cuts like we’ve had over the past 15 years are patients and the staff who are forced to do so much with so little.
Why should voters choose you: Our health-care system is already bursting at the seams because of the Kathleen Wynne Liberals’ cuts and budget freezes. Doug Ford’s $6 billion in cuts would be even worse. St. Catharines deserves better. We need change and I’m confident that Andrea Horwath’s plans for change for the better won’t just undo the damage but will put bold new investments into public services.
Contact info: 905-688-1455, email: jennie.stevens@ontariondp.ca, website: Jenniestevens.ontariondp.ca, Facebook: @ndpjenniestevens, Twitter: @jenniestevens_
Daniel Kevin Tisi, Libertarian
Age: 45
Occupation: Registered dietitian
Family: Married with three awesome kids.
Previous political experience: Voter like you.
Community work: Offering free nutrition consults to community groups on a limited basis.
Top issue: Increasing the individual rights and freedoms for all Ontarians.
Why are you running: I have three young children and an amazing wife. We are constantly set aback by the fact that we are both registered health professionals and we struggle every month to make ends meet. It’s disgusting that so much of our money goes to taxes every year that we barely have enough to provide for our amazing family. Enough nanny state antics. Let’s let the responsible citizens of Ontario control their own lives and decisions.
Why should voters choose you: We (the Ontario Libertarian Party) is the only party that aims to maximize individual rights and freedoms for Ontarians and that ultimately empowers you to be responsible for your own lives and reap the benefits of the fruits of your own labour.
Contact info: Website www.libertarian.on.ca/Daniel_Tisi, Facebook: @dan-Tisi-159986521362481, Twitter: https://twitter.com/dietitiandant
Saleh Waziruddin, Communist
Age: 40
Occupation: Unemployed Family: Parents and two adult sisters
Previous political experience: Two years’ management experience in a small municipal government, ran twice before, provincially and federally
Community work: Activist in $15 minimum wage and Cuba, Indigenous and Palestine solidarity groups. Past volunteer English teacher to seasonal farmworkers.
Top issue: Defending and extending the new minimum wage and labour standards, e.g. bring back part-timers’ holiday pay gains.
Why are you running: To represent those conscripted into poverty and unemployment, defending and extended new labour rights.
Why should voters choose you: If you agree with my platform then voting Communist is the best way to make your vote count, anything else is a wasted vote.
Contact info: Saleh@communistpartyontario.ca, 289-990-7683, website: https://bit.ly/2HooKeY and Niagaracommunists.blogspot.com, Twitter: @Communist4StCat
Candidate Duke Willis of the Cultural Action Party did not respond to requests for information.