Niagara-on-the-Lake council candidate Steve McGuinness wants to canvass residents in long-term care and condominium buildings ahead of Monday’s municipal election, but he says access restrictions have made it difficult.
As of Wednesday, Oct. 21, candidates had been granted permission to canvass at Radiant Care Pleasant Manor on Friday between 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. following inquiries by The Lake Report.
A meet-and-greet with candidates is scheduled to follow from 1 to 2 p.m.
McGuinness said he was previously denied access to Pleasant Manor and King’s Point condominiums.
However, the Municipal Elections Act explicitly permits candidates to have access to most residential properties between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. during the election campaign.
The issue began when a Pleasant Manor resident emailed McGuinness expressing interest in his campaign and asking for more information.
“I wanted to help her out, so I went into Pleasant Manor.”
McGuinness said he identified himself to two women at the front desk, who told him he could not enter before they spoke with CEO Tim Siemens.
“I didn’t try to force my way in or anything,” McGuinness said.
Siemens initially did not respond to McGuinness’s email, but another staff member later called him on Siemens’ behalf.
“The quote was that they’re not letting any candidates in because they don’t want their residents to be disturbed,” McGuinness said.
McGuinness took issue with the decision, particularly because of his late mother.
“I would not want some administrator in a retirement community making a decision on behalf of my mom and everyone.”
The Lake Report contacted Siemens for clarification about candidate access to Pleasant Manor.
In an email response, Siemens said there is no blanket ban on candidates entering the facility or canvassing.
“We at Radiant Care recognize the importance of candidates having the opportunity to speak with voters, and we try our best to balance that with our respect for residents’ dignity, privacy, safety, and choices,” he said.
Siemens outlined the protocol for campaign visits, for both rental tenants and long-term care residents, saying they must be scheduled in advance and residents must expressly agree to interact with a candidate.
“Our aim is to support democratic participation thoughtfully, equitably, fairly and with residents’ well-being at the centre,” Siemens said.
McGuinness received a similar email from Siemens on Tuesday. He responded by requesting a scheduled meet-the-candidate session this week.
“I would welcome a short, scheduled ‘meet the candidate’ session in a common room this week, open to any resident who wishes to attend. I have no objection to the same invitation going to all candidates,” McGuinness wrote.
In response to questions from The Lake Report, Quinton Ascah, the town’s communications co-ordinator, noted, “The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 is clear that no person in control of an apartment building, condominium building, non-profit housing co-operative, or gated community may prevent a candidate or their representative from campaigning between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the doors of residences.”
“Candidates or campaign representatives who are denied access should first bring the relevant legislative provisions to the attention of the property manager, landlord, condominium corporation, or housing co-operative and request reasonable access,” Ascah said in an email.
Coun. Gary Burroughs, who has canvassed at condominiums and Pleasant Manor in the past, said some restrictions are commonplace.
“There’s a process. You can’t just show up at the door,” he said.
Burroughs did not attempt to canvass at Pleasant Manor this year.
Mayoral candidate Vaughn Goettler was also denied entry to Pleasant Manor and Niagara Long-Term Care Facility. He has been in contact with Siemens to find a middle ground regarding canvassing at Pleasant Manor.
“It’s been a little bit tough. I don’t know if it is for all candidates. I think it probably is. I can’t see that they treat some candidates differently than others,” he said.
Goettler said he understands the care home staff’s concerns.
“I don’t think people are being difficult. I think they’re trying to protect the residents, be they seniors or just condo owners. And I think they’re trying to manage the process,” he said.
Goettler told The Lake Report on Wednesday afternoon that he had received a call informing him that canvassing would be permitted at Pleasant Manor on Friday.
He also said he was able to canvass inside King’s Point condominium with advance notice.
McGuinness, who canvassed at King’s Point in 2025, said he was granted access that year without advance notice but was turned away this year.
A King’s Point staff member told McGuinness that his request would need approval from the condominium corporation’s board of directors at its next meeting, he said.
McGuinness said the delay is a concern given the limited time available during an election campaign.
“By the time they next meet, the election could be over,” he said.
Candidate Weston Miller canvassed at King’s Point after receiving advance permission.
“We just called the property manager,” he said.
Miller said he spoke with staff representatives at Pleasant Manor and was told canvassing was not permitted.
“We had pushed a bit because we said, ‘You’ve got a polling station at your facility,’” Miller said.
“We don’t understand how you can have a polling station but not allow your residents the opportunity to hear directly from candidates.”
Miller said he and his team also proposed a meet-and-greet in a common area to respect residents’ privacy, but that request was denied as well.
“We did think it warranted looking into further,” he said.
Mayoral candidate Andrea Kaiser did not canvass inside Pleasant Manor but left campaign materials to be distributed to residents.
“I just inquired about the best way to reach the residents and they suggested that I bring some brochures in, as opposed to knocking on each door,” she said.
McGuinness said he has also faced restrictions on entering Simcoe Apartments on Davy Street.
Council candidate Karen Taylor-Jones, who lives in the building, said visitors can enter only when someone is available to let them in.
“We’re not allowed to let a stranger in,” she said.
At an all-candidates debate, Taylor-Jones told McGuinness that outside candidates are not permitted to enter Simcoe Apartments because it is a public housing building, McGuinness said.
