Vaccine skeptics fall short at polls
‘Freedom Convoy’ boosters, mask critics unseated
Candidates who supported the socalled ‘Freedom Convoy’ and took a dim view of public health restrictions or vaccines found the going tough after officials had counted the ballots in last week’s municipal elections.
There just wasn’t enough support for them to win or retain seats on city and town councils in Niagara.
The highest profile candidate was Mayor Dave Bylsma in West Lincoln. Bylsma was soundly defeated by Cheryl Ganann, a town council veteran, 3,768 votes to 1,484. The race was one that many believed would come down to the wire.
“I thought it would be much closer, and we would be pushing for those last few votes to make a difference,” Ganann said.
“He had a loud, in-your-face group of supporters, but the majority of people were silently standing by and hoping it would all go away before deciding to stick up for themselves.”
Ganann said she knew something was up when she couldn’t keep up with the demand for signs.
“I started with about 100 bag signs and 10 larger signs, but before we got to the end of August, the signs were all gone,” Ganann said.
“I ordered 50 more, and those were spoken for before we could start putting them out, as per our bylaw on Sept. 9.
“By the end of the campaign, we had given our lawn sign to someone in an outlying area. I have never seen anything like it.”
Bylsma didn’t respond to an interview request from The Standard.
In St. Catharines, Merritton ward candidate Rebecca Hahn finished fourth out of six candidates vying for two seats.
Hahn was a People’s Party candidate in the 2021 federal election. She made waves when she was blocked from making a presentation to Niagara Region’s health and social services committee because officials said it contained “skewed” information about efforts to
control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hahn still stands behind the information in her presentation. However, as a city council candidate, she said she concentrated on meat-and-potatoes issues such as homelessness, business recovery and housing affordability.
“People weren’t asking about vaccination status when I went do to door,” she said. “People are really concerned about issues such as homelessness. They want their street back. They want their parks back. Families are afraid to let their kids go and play in the parks because of the needles.”
She took aim at the media, which she said presents the People’s Party as “racist antivaxxers who are going to kill grandmas.”
“I think that as much as anything hindered me from making more progress in the campaign,” Hahn said. “I think I earned respect from many people in the community. People aren’t stupid and know when somebody is genuine and wants to help.
“It’s very unfortunate because for all I know people were going to vote for me at the door. Then two days later, they turn on the news and everybody's being told that I'm a racist. I'm the furthest thing from racist. It's actually so insulting.””
In Fort Erie, Peter Taras, another People’s Party candidate from the federal election, ran for mayor. Taras has built a national social media following but couldn’t come close to unseating Mayor Wayne Redekop, who had 6,195 votes. Taras received 1,940 votes.
“Winning wasn’t the goal,” Taras said. “The goal is to stand up for justice and truth. Winning would be a byproduct because we live in a society that, hopefully, still values those things.”
When he was campaigning, Taras said some residents disagreed with him “in a way that I wouldn’t call respectful.”
“That’s really on them,” Taras said. “Of course, it bothers me a little bit but, ultimately, I know what I stand for, who I am and what I believe.
“I know my views may upset people, and so be it. I’m not going to change to try to make everybody happy. But, if anything, the campaign gave me a greater resolve to defend my positions, the freedoms of individuals, bodily autonomy and the vulnerable.
“During the last mayors’ debate, I kept repeating that it’s not the job of government to tell you what to wear, who is allowed in your home, what you are supposed to put in your body. It is the government’s job to protect your rights so that you can continue making those decisions for yourself.”
Redekop said his campaign tried to highlight the work he did in the community over the years with the support of town council and staff.
“From my perspective, most people want to do what they can to protect themselves and those around them,” Redekop said. “It was pretty evident considering the number of people who are vaccinated and tried to follow the rules, even as the pandemic dragged on.
“I think the election results, particularly in Fort Erie, showed people were supportive of that approach as opposed to the do-whatever-you-want-approach, which isn’t particularly helpful.”
Two incumbents of note from west Niagara — Harold Jonker in West Lincoln and Dave Sharpe in Grimsby — also lost.
Jonker, who represented Ward 2, owns a trucking company and his vehicles were part of the Freedom Convoy occupation of Ottawa. He received a “hero’s welcome” with an impromptu parade and fireworks upon his return home from Ottawa.
Jonker received 529 votes. The winners, Joann Chechalk and Shelly Ann Bradaric, received 709 votes and 576 votes, respectively.
Jonker didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.
Sharpe finished fourth out of five candidates in his Ward 2 with 612 votes. The two successful candidates in the ward, Leanne Vardy and Don Howe, had little difficulty outpolling Sharpe with 2,011 and 1,700 votes, respectively.
Sharpe travelled to Ottawa for the occupation and was active on social media and supported the convoy.
Attempts to reach Sharpe were unsuccessful.