Ontario Provincial Election 2022 and First Time Voters

Hanen Nanaa, Regional Advisor at the Parliament of Canada and a student majoring in politics, governance, public policy, and minoring law. 

(Disclaimer: This article does not promote the agenda or ideologies of any political party. This piece intends to guide voters to understand the provincial election and in making this decision an easier process).

An Overview of Ontario’s 2022 Provincial Election 

On June 2, 2022, Ontario will witness a new election era during this global pandemic. While the new Omicron virus cases count continues to rise in Ontario, the province has re-entered stage two of lockdown. This is intended to remain the case until January 26, 2022, to help the province battle the surge in cases. However, there are several concerns about whether an election will be possible in such a state.

Many Ontarians have raised significant issues as we prepare to cast our votes on June 2. Individuals are calling for immediate support on factors like affordable housing, climate change, the mental health crisis, the current economic recovery, Indigenous affairs, domestic violence, vaccine equity, COVID-19 restrictions, and those new viruses which have spread fear. This June, Ontarians will cast their first provincial vote in the global pandemic, but how does it feel for first-time voters in Ontario? 

Provincial vs Federal Elections 

Provincial and federal elections send politicians to offices in different levels of government in Canada. Separate pieces of legislation govern the two election administrations. In each, voters will elect a candidate, which may or may not represent a political party, for their electoral riding (area or district). The selected candidate will become your Member of Parliament (in the federal case) or Member of Provincial Parliament (in Ontario’s provincial legislature). In general terms, the party leader of the political party which wins the most seats during the election will become the Prime Minister of Canada (federal) or Premier of the Province (provincial). In Canada, all provinces have the first-past-the-post system, meaning that the candidate winning the most votes in each electoral district is the winner, regardless if this is more or less than 50 percent of the votes cast. 

There are 338 seats in the House of Commons, and 124 at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.  

The Premier and the Members of Provincial Parliament 

There are 124 ridings in Ontario. By-elections are held whenever a seat becomes vacant.

During the provincial election, Ontarians vote for their local Member of Provincial Parliament. Ontario has 124 MPPs that are elected to represent the concerns of their constituents regarding provincial responsibilities at the legislature and in their ridings and scrutinizing the government policy. At the legislature, MPPs may be assigned different roles by their party leaders such as House Leader or Party Whip. They can be appointed as cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants, committee chairs, or critics. MPPs are assigned by their party leader, the Premier, who is the head of the provincial government. The Premier appoints cabinet ministers, and together they develop policies and set priorities for the government. 

General elections are generally held every four years. However, the Premier can advise the Lieutenant Governor to call an election before then. By-elections are held in just a single electoral district. More than one by-election may be held at the same time, if there is more than one vacant seat. A by-election is held to fill a seat that is left vacant because a member has resigned or passed away before a general election.

This list of current MPPs shows the names of members next to the riding they represent. If you don’t know your MPP’s name or your riding, use the “Find my MPP” tool on the Members page.

Voting for the first time

Voting is essential to young Khaled Abdulwahed, a former Syrian refugee who recently became a Canadian citizen. Khaled believes voting is a fundamental right of civic participation through which he and other young people contribute to democracy. Young people’s votes can be influential and even decisive. He truly believes that elections give the youth the power to choose a suitable leader, work on local issues, and be a part of the democracy. 

“I am very excited to cast my vote in the provincial election. Coming from Syria, a war zone country, I have never been given the opportunity to vote in my life, so this election is unique because I am casting my vote for the first time ever as a new Canadian who cares about Ontario and wants the youth to be heard.” Khaled Abdulwahed; Technician, a student, and a former refugee

Khaled and many newcomers have raised concerns about the province’s education system. As a student, he thinks the next Ontario government needs to invest more in education by reducing education loans and offering support to new Canadians. Khaled believes young newcomers often face challenges when applying for post-secondary school; therefore, he would like to see the province providing newcomers with equal access to education and other opportunities. Affordable housing is also a top concern for him and his family. Khaled stresses the improvement that Ontario transportation desperately needs. Covid-19 has been challenging for many Ontarians. When casting his vote, Khaled will look for a leader whom prioritizes a better recovery plan and financial support for small businesses and essential workers. 

“Voting matters to me. As a new Canadian citizen, I feel privileged to cast my vote in the upcoming election. It is like a dream for us; we lost people, our homes, and so many valuable things simply because we wanted to do our small part and participate in our democracy. I truly believe elections play a critical role in our personal and social lives, and I am very excited to cast my vote for the time first-ever.”  Ruba Bilal; Retail and Merchandise Regional Manager, a mother, and a former refugee 

Ruba Bilal told me that when she chooses the province’s future leader, she will look at someone who cares about the youth’s future and actively invests in the education and health care systems. Her top priority for all politicians is to provide an easy life for the youth. From her experience as a mother of two children, she thinks the youth are struggling to keep up with both work and school, and there should be more support available for them. Engaging the youth when creating policies is needed to bridge the evident gaps. Lower debt, better education, and more resources would fill this gap.

“I am aware of voting, and there are several resources to help us; however, the problem is that not many of us are interested in casting our vote. Many of us newcomers come from dictatorship countries that forbade us from practicing our basic humanitarian rights. Some of us as newcomers do not understand the meaning of democracy and the importance of participating in politics. We fear that our opinions are not encouraged and will not be heard. It is not enough to criticize the government; it is important to participate and improve the policies that impact our lives. The change will be possible when we bring awareness to newcomers’ critical role in civic engagement. There are various ways to participate other than voting. We should as newcomers to fill in surveys, share our opinions, attend events, help in campaigns and get involved to be active citizens and thus be a part of the Canadian democracy.” 

Finally, I had the opportunity to talk to Musa Talozi, who also made Toronto his home back in 2016. Musa told me that Covid-19 is a challenge for first-time voters on two levels. The first challenge is an accessibility barrier, where people who are not familiar with the normal voting process find it challenging to cast their vote. Most of the interactions and communication with official institutions face backlogs. The second challenge is that not all newcomers are aware of the candidates and the parties’ mandates which could create more challenges and discourage newcomers from casting their votes. 

“I will be voting for the first time; in fact, it’ll be the first time I vote in my life. I’m excited to exercise my voting rights and have a say in who gets to govern our province and make the decisions that affect our daily lives. Democracy works when people exercise their rights and cast their votes; everyone has something to complain about when it comes to politics; that’s why we should make sure that people in power are doing what most of us think is good for us and reflect the values of our communities.”  Musa Talluzi; Software Engineer at Amazon and a former refugee

After 5 years, Musa is a new Ontarian who has established his life in Toronto. The most important thing he cares about are economic policies – the province needs to have a healthy economy, spur innovation, and attract investments in Ontario. The housing crisis, which has been growing out of control, is one of the top concerns for Musa. “We can’t forget about Covid!” Musa said while the province is working to flatten the curve, we need to support Ontarians and small businesses to help them recover. We need to invest in mental health resources and maintain Ontario’s status as a welcoming place for newcomers and refugees. 

Who Can Vote?

Ontarians 18 years or older who hold Canadian citizenship and are a resident of Ontario will be eligible to vote in the provincial elections in June 2022. Electors must be on the voter’s list to vote. Between elections, Individuals can add their names to the voter’s list with registration.

When and how to vote?

Electors can vote in the provincial election either on Election Day, through advanced polling, or by mail. Voters must present valid ID to prove identity and residency to vote. Electors can vote in several ways. They can vote on  Election Day, at an advance voting location, before election day at their returning office, and by mail or vote in a hospital. 

Once an election in the electoral district has been called, electors will be able to use the Voter Information Service to find their voting information, including when and where to vote. This information will also be on the voter information card, which electors will receive in the mail if they are registered to vote. Voting on election day typically closes at 9 p.m.

There are two upcoming events worth considering to further grasp the political parties contesting this election. Ryerson University’s Democracy Forum is hosting a virtual event at 4:00 pm on January 25th, with the leaders of the Ontario Liberals, NDP, and Green party speaking. Then in February, Ryerson University’s Exchange is providing community organizations and student groups training sessions for non-partisan voter engagement. This is a great way to further familiarize oneself with the ins and outs of Canada’s provincial elections, without having to commit to any actual politics.