New Canadians Prepare to Vote in Ontario’s Election

Hanen Nanaa 

Public Policy, Administration, and Law scholar at York University, civic engagement specialist, and former senior political advisor to the Canadian government. Nanaa is also a multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, founder of BAM Collective, and a former refugee and war survivor from Syria.

(Disclaimer: This article is strictly informational and does not endorse or promote any political party or ideology. This piece intends to guide new voters to understand the provincial election and make this decision an easier process). 

Ontario’s provincial election will occur on Thursday, February 27th, 2025. Ontarians will elect their Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to address the key issues facing the province.

Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner are the party leaders running to become Ontario’s next premier. All leaders were in Toronto on February 17th, 2025 to take part in the final Ontario leaders debate. Voters can watch the debate here and learn more about the party leaders’ platforms and promises through this tracker, which Global News updates daily throughout the 2025 Ontario election.   

Party leaders have been touring the province, speaking to Ontarians about their proposed plans to address key issues in Ontario. These issues include the recent threat of U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian imports and the potential economic impact this could have. Major concerns remain in healthcare, particularly family doctor shortages and the long wait times in emergency rooms. Housing affordability and the rising cost of living are also key issues, along with concerns around crime, auto theft, and school violence. Additionally, homelessness, investments in social assistance programs, and infrastructure development are top priorities for many voters in Ontario. 

Voters interested in learning more about election issues can check out the nonpartisan resources provided by Social Planning Toronto. The list includes issue-specific campaigns and advocacy, voter engagement resources, advocacy platforms and campaigns, platform analysis, and election tracking. 

Preparing New Canadians for the Provincial Election

BAM Collective in partnership with the Syrian Canadian Foundation, the Democratic Engagement Exchange, and Henna platform hosted a non-partisan election readiness workshop for new Canadians on February 18th, 2025. This interactive workshop helped new Canadians navigate the voting process, understand their rights, and be prepared to make their voice heard in the upcoming election. 

During the workshop, participants were asked to describe in one word how they felt about voting in the upcoming Ontario election. Their responses ranged from feeling overwhelmed, worried, curious, and nervous to feeling confident, privileged, proud, keen, responsible, excited, and empowered! Mixed feelings about the upcoming election were common among the participants, but after the workshop, all participants confirmed that they were ready to vote!

Newcomers in Ontario play an important role in shaping our economic prosperity and strengthening the diverse and rich culture of Ontario. As new voters, they will be heading to the polls this month to cast their votes. Voting might be a new experience for first-time voters here in Canada; however, the lack of access to meaningful and accessible civic engagement efforts especially during elections can create gaps. According to Elections Canada, research shows that some groups of first-time electors have more barriers and tend to vote less than the general Canadian population. There is a need for more creative and accessible training and workshop opportunities to ensure new voters are prepared and confident to cast their votes during elections.

Discussing new voters’ barriers, Marwa Khobieh, executive director of the Syrian Canadian Foundation, said, “Voter disengagement is not only common among newcomers but is also prevalent among Canadians”. According to Elections Ontario In the 2022 Ontario provincial election, voter turnout hit a historic low of 43.5%, meaning over 6 million eligible voters did not cast their ballots.”

“Many newcomers and refugees disengage from politics due to past trauma, having lived under dictatorships where democracy and fair elections do not exist,” she said. “This leads to a lack of trust in political systems and unfamiliarity with the democratic process in Canada.”

Khobieh calls for settlement organizations to prioritize hiring staff with lived experience to understand what newcomers and refugees have endured. This will equip newcomers with the right resources and more culturally sensitive civic engagement programs, filling in the gaps and helping new voters understand the voting process and be prepared during elections. 

Who Can Vote?

Ontarians 18 years or older who hold Canadian citizenship and are residents of Ontario are eligible to vote in the provincial election in February 2025. 

When and How to Vote?

Elections Ontario offers many ways to vote, including by mail, at the local election office, at an advance voting location, by home visit or hospital visit, and on election day. The Voter Information Service can help voters find voting locations.

Advance voting is from February 20 to 22. Voters can enter their postal code here to find an electoral district.  Election day is on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Polling places will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.  

Presenting an ID is required to vote in a provincial election. If individuals are on the Register, they will receive a voter information card  (VIC) in the mail about when and where to vote. To vote, individuals must also bring their VIC and one piece of ID showing their full name to receive a ballot. 

Voters can still vote even if they do not receive the voter information card. However, they must bring one piece of ID showing both their full name and home address to register and receive a ballot.

Here is more information about the ID requirements, and examples of accepted IDs to vote. 

Working and Volunteering During Elections 

Several positions are open at Elections Ontario to work during the election. All positions are paid and include training. More information about the positions and the application process is available here. 

Voters can also contact the local candidates to volunteer in their campaigns or to community organizations to raise awareness about voting and civic engagement. 

Accessibility Needs 

If individuals have accessibility needs or are unable to go to their local election office or voting location, they can request to vote by home visit. Voters who need assistance with voting can also visit this link for more details. 

For more information about voting and additional resources, voters can visit the official election resource, Elections Ontario, and this guide about voting in Ontario’s provincial Election.