Niagara West riding profile
The riding of Niagara West, formerly Niagara West–Glanbrook, includes a popular of some 90,840 people. The riding boundaries include Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, West Lincoln, Wainfleet and the western edge of St. Catharines.
The riding is currently represented by Progressive Conservative Sam Oosterhoff, who is also the youngest person to ever be elected to the provincial legislature.
Candidate profiles (alphabetical order, by surname)
Curtis James Douglas Fric, New Democratic Party of Ontario
Age: 20
Occupation: Full-time student at Brock University; completed second year in political science; four years part-time dietary aide in a long-term care facility
Family: Mother, father, older brother
Previous political experience: Worked on multiple election campaigns with NDP MPPs between 2016 and 2018
Community work: Brock University NDP club
Top issue: Health care in Niagara West. The aging West Lincoln Memorial Hospital needs to be replaced so that it can meet the needs of not only the rapidly growing population of West Niagara but also of Winona. The serious shortage of long-term beds must also be addressed.
Why are you running: I believe that we need a progressive representative here in Niagara West. I believe that I can bring a compassionate and empathetic voice to Queen’s Park for my constituents. I also strongly believe in the NDP platform and the change for the better it will bring.
Why should voters choose you: I will bring a strong voice to Queen’s Park for the people of Niagara West. Andrea Horwath and I will continually work towards the goal of making life more affordable and better for all Ontarians.
Contact info: Email:curtis.fric@ontariondp.ca, Facebook page: CurtisFricNDP, Twitter: @NiagaraWestNDP, phone: 905562-7169
Stefanos Karatopis, Libertarian
Age: 48
Occupation: Entrepreneur/ advocate
Family: Single father, two sons Previous political experience: Approximately 11 years municipal, provincial and some federal
Community work: Advocating for people in need of help with various levels of government free of charge throughout the Niagara region and across Ontario.
Top issue: Health care is the most important issue. We do not have a system to take care of Ontario and our aging population. We will provide an option that offers the current system and an alternate system cheaper and faster.
Why are you running: To save Ontario from total destruction that all the previous parties have created. To bring business and jobs back to Ontario and to cut hydro rates in half so that we can prosper again.
Why should voters choose you: I as a mature candidate have a vast amount of real world knowledge and most qualified person to advocate for the Niagara West riding. I have a unique skill set that encompasses business, political and law recently obtaining my paralegal diploma making me best suited to advocate for my constituents.
Joe Kanee, Liberal Party of Ontario
Age: 27 Occupation: director of operations for a fitness centre
Top issue: Bringing the best and most accessible health care and childcare to Niagara West
Why are you running: I know that I can work hard and bring effective and impactful improvements to the lives of the families in Niagara West.
Why should voters choose you: Niagara West deserves an MPP who can get things done for them. I’ve proven I can work hard and accomplish the goals of my employers, and I know I can do the same if elected and employed by the constituents of Niagara West.
Contact info: 905-327-52340, email: josephkanee@live.com, website: www.joekanee.ca, Twitter: @joekaneeformpp
Sam Oosterhoff, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Age: 20
Occupation: Member of provincial parliament
Family: Large. Very large. Previous political experience: Former policy analyst and legislative assistant at the House of Commons, where I worked for a federal MP on a wide variety of issues ranging from interprovincial trade to a rare-disease strategy, and government regulations.
Community work: From volunteering at a local long-term care home, serving in my local church, to my involvement with the air cadets program in the past, and serving as a volunteer camp counsellor for inner-city kids, I have enjoyed working to make Niagara West the best community to live, work and raise a family.
Why are you running: I believe the taxpayers, families, and job creators of Niagara West deserve a PC government that listens to them, a PC government that will work to make their lives more affordable, and a PC government that will trust them to make the decisions that are best for them and their families.
Why should voters choose you? Since being elected in 2016, my priority has been the needs and concerns of the constituents of Niagara West, first and foremost. I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure their voice is heard at Queen’s Park, with integrity and commitment.
Contact info: Email: sam.oosterhoff@ontariopc.com, 905-5630394, website: samoosterhoff.com, Facebook: @samueloosterhoff, Twitter: @samoosterhoff
Candidates who did not respond to requests from The Standard are Jessican Tillmans from the Green Party of Ontario and Geoffrey Barton of the Multicultural Party of Ontario