VOTE 2021 A GUIDE TO LOCAL RIDINGS AND CANDIDATES

> NIAGARA FALLS

Candidates vying to win the most votes in the Niagara Falls riding in the federal election on Monday have to get used to travelling — a lot.

While it pales in comparison to the geographic size of the sparsely populated Niagara West riding, which eats up a vast 989 square kilometres of space, Niagara Falls riding still covers 508.8 sq. km, according to Statistics Canada. That’s vastly larger than the Toronto-St. Paul’s (13.1 sq. km) riding as well as Mississauga Centre (23 sq. km), and considerably larger than St. Catharines riding (53.1 sq. km) and Niagara Centre riding (301 sq. km).

Because it includes the city of Niagara Falls and the towns of Fort Erie and Niagara-onthe-Lake, having a shot at winning Niagara Falls riding usually also means candidates will have to pay for up to three campaign offices to maintain a high profile.

Candidates also have to deal with the fact the riding has different demographics among the three municipalities.

MORE SENIORS IN NOTL

Statistics from the last census show there are more seniors in this town, with the median age of 55 according to Statistics Canada. It’s also the most affluent part of the riding, with an after-tax, median income of $85,248 and a higher proportion of people with post-secondary education.

GROWING NIAGARA FALLS

This area of the riding has seen a population boom of sorts in recent years, particularly with the vast Empire homes community built in the south end. Statistics from the region show it has a very large percentage of its workforce working in the sales and service sectors, and that the after-tax median family income is $67,298.

BORDER-HUGGING FORT ERIE

This town has long watched nervously as the future of its important horse racing track is often murky, and like Niagara Falls, has been hard hit by the closure of the Canada-U.S. land border for more than 16 months.

Regional statistics show that one in four families spend 30 per cent or more of their income on shelter costs. Canada

Mortgage and Housing Corp. defines housing as affordable when households spend less than 30 per cent of before-tax income on shelter.

THE RACE

Conservative incumbent Tony Baldinelli, who won the 2019 election after the retirement of former Conservative MP Rob Nicholson, hopes to continue his party’s dynasty in the riding. He’s facing, for the second consecutive election, Liberal Andrea Kaiser and New Democrat Brian Barker, as well as the Green party’s Melanie Holm and Peter Taras of the People’s Party of Canada.

THE ISSUES

The border will obviously be an important issue for these three communities tucked up against the United States, especially with the American side maintaining travel restrictions for now. Soaring home prices in all three communities in the 17 months since COVID-19 hit Niagara will also be a topic of much discussion at front doors during candidate door knocking.

Tourism is essential to the City of Niagara Falls’ economy and likewise important to Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake, and will be an important topic — with many tourism-related operations struggling to survive after multiple lockdowns during the pandemic.

Candidates should also not be surprised to be debating the merits or drawbacks of vaccine passports for those fully vaccinated.