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Niagara Falls
Friday, March 29, 2024
NDP’s Wayne Gates chosen again to defend his provincial seat

Incumbent Wayne Gates has been chosen by the New Democrats to run for re-election as MPP for Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls. 

First elected in a 2014 by-election, he won two more elections, including a record-breaking win in 2018 when he scored the highest percentage of support (50.7 per cent) of any candidate ever in Niagara Falls riding.

That win also drew record support from Niagara-on-the-Lake, surpassing almost every New Democrat who had ever run before him.

Gates said the nomination meeting, held Thursday, Nov. 25, was particularly special because he was nominated by Burd Sisler, a 106-year-old, Second World War veteran from Fort Erie.

“We want to see if Wayne Gates can keep working like he's working. He's really pushing that Doug Ford fellow. I hope he keeps at it,” said Sisler, who was born in 1915.

“I like Wayne because he's dedicated to his job. I think if Wayne promises you something, you're gonna get it.”

In his nomination speech, Gates emphasized his connection to the communities that make up NOTL.

“I think Niagara-on-the-Lake is a community that wants their voice to be someone who understands their local concerns – who brings those concerns to Queen’s Park, and doesn’t just repeat whatever the party line is while never actually spending time in the community,” he said.

“This is a lesson I learned first-hand when we worked with the community to try and stop the Liberals from closing Parliament Oak (school) and it’s a lesson I haven’t forgotten,” said Gates.

Gates said a big reason he’s running is because of the difference between him and his opponents on natural and cultural heritage issues.

“Three times we saw this government try to rip up the Greenbelt and three times it was this community that said no. I don’t believe we should be paving over our environmentally sensitive lands or destroying our cultural heritage for a quick payout. These wonderful pieces of our town must be protected for future generations,” said Gates.

“This community is a wonderful place but it’s changing quickly and if we don’t tell the province we have something special here that requires a local approach then we could lose it and I refuse to let that happen.”

Gates also said his local plan would focus on seniors issues.

“It’s no secret our community has a high percentage of seniors and they should be given the respect they’ve earned. That means having health care made more available to them, being supported to stay in their homes and when they need to move, knowing there's safe and respectable long-term care for them.”

NDP leader Andrea Horwath attended the nomination meeting along with a wide array of people from across the riding which represents the three communities along the Niagara River.

Niagara Falls Regional Coun. Bob Gale is running for the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals will hold a nomination meeting on Dec. 11.

The election is scheduled for June 2, with the campaign period expected to stretch over the month of May.

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