With just three days to go, it’s not too late to make your voice heard in the next provincial election.
The Ontario provincial election, which was originally scheduled for June 2026, is now set to take place this Thursday, Feb. 27 after Premier Doug Ford called for a snap election.
The leaders of the four major parties—Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PC) leader Ford, Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Marit Stiles, Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie, and Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner—are all crossing their fingers as they make their final push to sway undecided voters.
There are currently six candidates for Kingston and the Islands, all of whom are hoping to secure the riding’s support.
Candidates include PC candidate Ian Chapelle, NDP candidate Elliot Goodell Ugalde, James McNair of the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party, Zachary Typhair of the Green Party of Ontario, Allan Wilson of the Ontario Party, and Liberal incumbent Ted Hsu.
Hsu has held the seat since 2022, when he won with 37.7 per cent of 48,738 votes.
The riding has been a historically stronghold for the Ontario Liberal party, with the party holding the seat for the majority of the last 30 years. The exception came in 2018 when Ian Arthur of the NDP unseated incumbent Liberal Sophie Kiwala. No Progressive Conservative has won since 1981.
With key issues such as healthcare funding, affordability, education, and infrastructure dominating the campaign, all parties have made bold promises to secure support.
Ford and the Progressive Conservatives are running on their record of economic growth and infrastructure investment, while Stiles and the NDP are emphasizing affordability and public services. Crombie’s Liberals are aiming to win back voters with pledges on education and healthcare, and Schreiner’s Greens are advocating for stronger environmental protections and climate action.
Anyone over the age of 18 who’s a Canadian citizen and resident of Ontario is eligible to vote in the election.
Students can vote either in the Kingston and the Islands riding, given they provide proof of residency, or in their home riding. Acceptable proof of address includes a utility bill, bank statement, government-issued ID, or official document from their university residence.
In person voting on election day is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with three polling stations—Winston Churchill Public School (530 Earl St.), Kingston Memorial Centre (303 York St.), and St. Paul’s Church (137 Queen St.)—located within a 20-minute walk from main campus.
If you’re unable to vote on election day, voters can cast their ballot early at the Kingston and the Islands local election office (40 Hyperion Court) until Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.
The AMS is hosting a “Meet the Candidates” event on Feb. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Goodes Hall, with three Kingston and the Island candidates confirmed to attend. The event provides an opportunity for students and community members to hear directly from the candidates about their platforms, ask questions, and engage in discussions about key election issues.
Tags
Elections 2025, Provincial Election, Voting
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