Kitchener’s Ward 10 Councillor to run for MPP with Green Party

A familiar face will represent the Kitchener Centre greens in the upcoming provincial by-election.

The Green Party of Ontario named Aislinn Clancy as the candidate for MPP last night at the Victoria Park Pavilion.

With Clancy currently occupying the Ward 10 seat at City of Kitchener Council, some residents have voiced concerns. City’s Mike Farwell was also critical of Clancy’s decision to seek higher office only six months after she’d been elected.

“I ask the question, ‘was the municipal election always only going to be a stepping stone for you? Was it just a place to sit for now until you could get somewhere else?’ If Aislinn Clancy is unsuccessful… then she just waltzes right back into her seat at the City of Kitchener. I don’t think the system should allow for this.”

Farwell believes that if the candidate is unsuccessful provincially, they should have to win a by-election to return to their municipal seat.

In Clancy’s response, she said that she did not anticipate the resignation of current MPP Laura Mae Lindo and further explained why she made the last-minute decision to run for the Green Party candidacy.

“The day after the [municipal] election in October, Bill 23 came out. Since then, there have been unprecedented policy changes that impact the municipality’s ability to have control over land dues, affordable housing, climate initiatives, protected lands, etcetera.”

Clancy also promised that if she was successful, she would take an unpaid leave from her councillor role.

She said in an Instagram post that she is grateful to be part of the green team, there is a long road ahead to make Kitchener Centre green in the provincial by-election.

Ward 9 Councillor Debbie Chapman has also announced her interest in the nomination for the Ontario NDP.