• Ontarians will vote in a rare winter snap election on Feb. 27, the first since 1981 and only the second February election in the province’s history.
  • Progressive Conservative incumbent Paul Calandra faces four challengers: Kelly Dunn (Liberal), Gregory Hines (NDP), Myles O’Brien (Green), and Brendan Sorenson (New Blue).
  • A Nanos poll found health care, economic concerns, and U.S. political threats are top voter issues, with housing, taxation, and education also key factors.
  • Advance voting runs from Feb. 20–22 at select locations, with early in-person voting open until Feb. 26 and mail-in ballot applications due by Feb. 21.
  • Voters can confirm registration at RegisterToVoteON.ca and find their local polling station through the Elections Ontario Voter Information Service website.

 

On Feb. 27, Ontarians will decide the future balance of Queen’s Park in a rare winter snap election. It marks the first winter election since Premier Bill Davis called voters to the polls on March 19, 1981. The only other February election in Ontario took place in 1883.

The candidate registration period has closed, and four challengers have put their names forward to contest Progressive Conservative incumbent and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra. They include Kelly Dunn of the Ontario Liberal Party, Gregory Hines of the Ontario NDP, Myles O’Brien of the Green Party of Ontario, and Brendan Sorenson of the New Blue Party.

According to a recent Nanos survey, health care, economic concerns, and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump rank as Ontarians’ top three election issues. Voters are also weighing housing, taxation, and education, the poll found.

Locally, residents regularly discuss affordability and cost of living concerns, Stouffville’s population growth and housing targets, and land use planning matters such as the use of Minister’s Zoning Orders.

The Regional Municipality of York outlined several priority concerns in a recent Ontario budget consultation submission. These include the need for Provincial investments in the Region’s rapid bus transit network and community housing projects, as well as sustained funding to meet growing demand for social services and facilitate growth-enabling water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Region is also calling on the Ontario government to fill revenue gaps caused by reduced Development Charges (DCs) collections stemming from Provincial legislation. That assistance would help prevent the need for tax levy and user rate increases, especially as calls grow for broad reductions to DCs to accelerate delivery of new housing and lower development costs.

“As a high-growth municipality requiring significant growth-related infrastructure investments, shifting those costs to existing residential and commercial property taxes and water and wastewater rates would lead to unsustainable increases to maintain service levels,” the Regional Staff report explains. “This would further exacerbate housing affordability challenges and, from a commercial perspective, hinder the region’s economic competitiveness.”

In the absence of a local debate, Bullet Point News is submitting a panel of questions to each candidate. A profile piece outlining related policy positions from each respondent and their party will be published before voting day.

Markham-Stouffville voter participation in recent provincial elections has slightly outpaced the Ontario average. In 2018, 59% of the area’s electorate cast ballots, compared to the provincial average of 57%. Turnout then dropped in 2022, with 45% of local voters narrowly surpassing the province-wide rate of 44%.

Voter turnout in Stouffville’s past three municipal elections has declined sharply, highlighting the need for greater civic engagement. In 2014, 59% of eligible voters participated, followed by 48% in 2018 and just 34% in 2022.

“To make voting faster and easier, voters are encouraged to confirm, update, or add their information…at RegisterToVoteON.ca so that they will be mailed a voter information card with information on when, where, and how to vote,” an Elections Ontario news release explains. The deadline to do so is February 17, but voters can also register in-person on election day.

For those voting early, ballots can be cast at the local election office in Markham, located in the Boxgrove Medical Arts Centre at 110 Copper Creek Drive. The polling place is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. In-person voting at the location ends on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.

Local advance voting locations include the Leisure Centre at 2 Park Drive and the Whitchurch-Stouffville Firehall at 15400 Highway 48. They will be open from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Applications for voting by mail are due by 6 p.m. on Feb. 21. Approved applicants will receive a voting kit at their provided address. Once approved, mail-in voting becomes the only option, and completed kits must be returned by 6 p.m. on Feb. 27. Kits can be mailed using a provided prepaid envelope or dropped off at the Copper Creek election office.

To find your nearest election day polling station, simply enter your postal code on the Elections Ontario Ontario Voter Information Service website.