Here's why city councillors are endorsing provincial candidates
A growing list of municipal politicians are hoping to influence your choice in the upcoming provincial election.
On Monday, London West PC Candidate Paul Paolatto canvassed alongside Coun. Steve Lehman in Ward 8.
Lehman believes his endorsement of a provincial candidate can strengthen relations between the two levels of government.
“Paul is someone I can pick up the phone with and talk to about issues that affect the ward and London,” Lehman explained.
Paolatto adds that these kinds of endorsement can improve how local constituents are served by both levels of government.
“If you see the province and the municipality working well together, that can only serve Londoners better,” Paolatto said.
Meanwhile, Coun. Mariam Hamou has endorsed Green Party Candidate Carol Dyck in the riding of London North Centre.
Hamou acknowledges that backing one candidate over the others could be politically awkward if Dyck doesn’t win.
Coun. Mariam Hamou has endorsed the Green Party candidate but also welcomed PC and NDP signs on her lawn, May 16, 2022. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)“It’s a risk, but I’m doing it in good faith,” Hamou explained. “I’m not doing it to play partisan politics. I’m doing it because I actually believe in what she’s done, and I’ve worked with her.”
In Windsor, concern has been raised that endorsements could be seen as an overreach of political influence by those in office.
Last week Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens raised eyebrows when he backed a PC endorsement.
Experts warn that these endorsement could backfire.
Political Scientist Dr. Lydia Miljan says city council members risk alienating their own voter base ahead of this fall’s municipal election, based on their provincial endorsements.
“There’s no rules for endorsing candidates if you are a municipal politician, though the municipality is under the purview of the provincial government,” adds Miljan.
Though she’s announced her intention to vote Green, Councillor Hamou has also allotted space on her front lawn for signs by PC Candidate Jerry Pribil and NDP Candidate Terence Kernaghan.
“We are not going to do very badly in London North Centre if we elect any one of these three people,” she said.
Ontarians go to the polls June 2.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Some Republicans distance themselves from Trump's attack on Harris as 'mentally disabled'
Republicans on Sunday sought to distance themselves from Donald Trump's latest insults of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris during a rambling weekend rally in Wisconsin in which he called her 'mentally disabled.'
After losing her first love to suicide, this Windsor woman wants people to know there is life after death
Two and a half years after losing her best friend and first love to suicide, Brooke Ford shared her story of grief and resilience at the CMHA Windsor-Essex Suicide Awareness Walk.
Bloc pension demands at odds with Liberal political strategy, economic plans
The government has just weeks to decide if it will meet the $16-billion demand from the Bloc Québécois to stave off an election for a few more months, but the stipulation may be at odds with the political and fiscal plans of the Liberals.
Ottawa driver stopped after clocking 154 km/h on Highway 417
An Ottawa driver has been charged with stunt driving after being caught going 154 km/h on Highway 417, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
‘It's very unfair’: International students face uncertain future in Canada after rule change
Migrant groups are pushing the federal government to reverse its cap on international study permits and tightening post-graduate work permit qualifications, claiming it will leave many students 'in limbo.'
Sima Sistani, who embraced Ozempic, is out as CEO of WeightWatchers
WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani, who pushed the company into embracing weight-loss drugs, is leaving the position after a two-and-a-half year stint.
opinion How to make the most out of your TFSA
The Tax-Free Savings Account can be a powerful savings tool and investment vehicle. Financial contributor Christopher Liew explains how they work and how to take full advantage of them so you can reach your financial goals faster.
What is open and closed this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This Monday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools, as well as those who survived them.
They hit it off on vacation but then he went silent. So she decided to pick up the phone
When a few weeks passed and Nana Prempeh still hadn’t heard from the guy she met on vacation, she turned to her friends for advice.