Rob Deutschmann named Liberal candidate in Cambridge, resigns from position on regional council

As rumors of a potential snap election at the provincial government swirl, Rob Deutschmann has decided to resign from his position as councillor at the Region of Waterloo in search of a seat at Queen’s Park.

Deutschmann was announced as the candidate representing the Cambridge Provincial Liberal Association on Wednesday.

The personal injury attorney has spent the last 10 years representing various roles at the municipal level of government, including a four-year stint as mayor of North Dumfries and a six-year run as councillor at the Region of Waterloo.

That run as regional councillor comes to an end as Deutschmann turns his attention toward a potentially whirlwind campaign for provincial political office.

“It’s going to be a short campaign,” said Deutschmann. “It’s going to feel like a race to the finish line.”

He hopes to, alongside the rest of the Ontario Liberals, unseat the Progressive Conservative party from power at Queen’s Park after six years of a majority government.

“We know what that’s meant to Ontario: higher rents, more people using the food banks, more people homeless, more people without a family doctor,” said Deutschmann about the Ontario government under Premier Doug Ford. “Ontario’s moving in the wrong direction.”

Given his breadth of experience at the municipal level, Deutschmann hopes to advocate for the changes he and the rest of regional council have been fighting for this term.

“Given all that we do, and given that we need more help from the province, someone with municipal experience at Queen’s Park would be in a better position to try to achieve change that we need in order to address the inequity that’s going on,” he said.

Some of the issues he looks to tackle include bringing aid to people experiencing homelessness, those experiencing mental health issues, and drug addictions.

Deutschmann will run against incumbent PC MPP Brian Riddell who comfortably beat the Ontario Liberals and Ontario’s New Democrats in the 2022 election. Marjorie Knight will reprise her role as the NDP candidate after finishing second place against Riddell.

The Ontario Greens have nominated Carla Johnson, a trustee at the Waterloo Region District School Board, as their candidate in Cambridge.

In December, regional councillor Colleen James was announced as the Ontario Liberal candidate for the Kitchener Centre riding, but unlike Deutschmann, James has retained her role at the Region of Waterloo.

Regional councillors have 60 days to make a decision on the future of the vacant seat at the council table, whether it’s filled by appointment or through a byelection.