WELLINGTON COUNTY – The federal election is looming and incumbent Conservative Michael Chong is the one to beat in Wellington-Halton Hills North.
Chong was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and currently serves as shadow minister for foreign affairs for the Official Opposition.
In 2006, he served in the federal cabinet as president of the Queen’s Privy Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport.
He has chaired several House of Commons standing committees and is a co-founder and member of the All-Party Climate Caucus since it was formed in 2011.
MICHAEL CHONG
Chong is a co-founder of the Dominion Institute, now known as Historica Canada, an organization committed to raising Canadians’ awareness of history and civics. He currently sits on its Board of Governors.
Chong grew up just outside of Fergus. He is married to Carrie Davidson and they have three sons: William, Alistair and Cameron.
NDP: Andrew Bascombe
ANDREW BASCOMBE
Andrew Bascombe ran for the NDP in 2019 and is giving it another go in this election.
According to his website, Bascombe will fight for meaningful improvements in employment insurance, create pathways to home ownership, and establish emergency income supports for everyone including seniors and people with disabilities.
“We need change in this riding after 20 years of Conservative representation,” he states on the website. “Twenty years with the question of what have we benefitted from that representation.”
People’s Party of Canada: Syl Carle
SYL CARLE
Syl Carle has been a resident of Wellington and Halton Hills since 1993. His career with the RCMP brought him to the area as a 25 year old.
He was initially posted to the Sudbury detachment where he performed general federal policing duties. In 1993, he was transferred to the Greater Toronto Area where he performed a wide variety of duties.
In 2009 Carle retired from active service to concentrate on his business endeavours.
Motivated by his frustrations with the burdensome red tape affecting affordable housing developments, he ran for Halton Hills municipal council in 2012 but was not elected.
In 2018, Carle joined the PPC as a founding member and was voted president of the local electoral district association.
Carle, who ran in the 2019 and 2021 elections in Wellington-Halton Hills, said he strongly believes in each of the four pillar principles of the PPC: freedom, responsibility, fairness and respect.
Liberal Party: Sean Carscadden
SEAN CARSCADDEN
Sean Carscadden has dedicated his life to service – whether in the Canadian Forces, the aviation industry, or his community, and is running for the Liberals in this riding.
Raised in Russell, he said he understands the unique challenges and values of both rural and urban life.
Carscadden graduated among the top 10 students at Glebe Collegiate Institute before enlisting in the Canadian Forces.
He is a helicopter pilot and participated in humanitarian aid missions in Honduras and peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
After 20 years of military service, Carscadden transitioned to civilian aviation and is now an air ambulance pilot with Ornge.
He said he “is ready to bring his experience and dedication to the people of Wellington-Halton Hills North as their Liberal candidate,” adding his diverse background and dedication make him uniquely qualified to address the needs of both rural and urban constituents.
Green Party: Liam Stiles
LIAM STILES
Liam Stiles is a registered kinesiologist in a long-term home in Waterloo, where he serves as a leader in his department.
He says the skills he has acquired on the job are directly transferrable to Ottawa – a positive attitude, maintaining harmony during conflict, and winning others over.
“As an MP I would thrive in getting non-Green Party MPs on board with our policies and helping to implement them at a federal level,” he states on the Green Party of Canada website.
Smith withdraws
Businessman Ian Smith had announced he is running for the Centrist Party.
However, he told the Advertiser on April 10 that he has withdrawn.
Candidate events
As of April 9, there are two candidate events scheduled in the Wellington side of the riding.
For more information click here.
