All four major parties in Niagara-on-the-Lake’s riding have announced their candidates for the snap federal election on April 28.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the New Democrats have selected Shannon Mitchell as their candidate for the Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake riding.
Lifelong Niagara-on-the-Lake resident Andrea Kaiser is the face of the Liberal Party for the riding, facing off against incumbent Conservative Tony Baldinelli.
This year, NOTL’s election riding excludes Fort Erie, a municipality that was included in past elections.
The riding now includes Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, reflected in its name.
Kaiser has run as the Liberal candidate for NOTL’s riding twice before, once in 2019 and again in 2021.
Conservative Baldinelli has won the last two federal elections for Niagara Falls.
In 2021, Baldinelli won with 37.9 per cent of votes compared to Kaiser’s 33.5 per cent.
Kaiser currently holds the position of regional councillor, winning the election in 2022 with 44 per cent of votes.
She is well known in NOTL for involvement in the wine community as the daughter of Inniskillin co-founder Karl Kaiser and proprietor of her own brand, Drea’s Wine Co.
In the past, Kaiser has been chair of Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake and retail manager at Reif Estate Winery.
Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Tony Baldinelli began his career in politics in 1988, working as legislative assistant to MP Rob Nicholson.
Baldinelli has worked as a public relations, public affairs and community relations specialist with Hill and Knowlton Strategies in Toronto before returning to Niagara Falls, where he held the title of senior manager of communications and stakeholder relations for the Niagara Parks Commission.
In October 2019, Baldinelli was elected as Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls and has held the position since.
Green Party member Karen Fraser, a resident of Niagara Falls, will run for Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake.
A member of the party since 2005, Fraser has run in a number of elections in the past, including for a spot as regional councillor in 2022.
New Democrat Mitchell currently holds a position as board trustee for the District School Board of Niagara.
Owen Riel, president of the Niagara Falls Federal NDP Riding Association, said information on Mitchell will be available on the party website in the coming days.
The April 28 election comes shortly after the snap provincial election on Feb. 27.
In a statement outside Rideau Hall on March 23, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the election was called in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty.”
