Ontario Green Party launches election campaigns in Guelph and Kitchener

Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner appeared in Guelph on Jan. 29, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News)

As Ontario’s Green Party gets ready to wade into the latest provincial election, all eyes are on Guelph and Kitchener where their only two sitting MPPs call home.

Party Leader Mike Schreiner and Deputy Party Leader Aislinn Clancy officially launched their campaigns on Wednesday.

“We’re running strong campaigns across the province. Obviously, we want to hold onto the two seats we have right now in Guelph and Kitchener,” Schreiner said.

Schreiner was elected as MPP for Guelph and was the party’s first candidate elected to the Ontario legislature in 2018. He’s been the leader of the party since 2009.

“I would say, consistently, people say to me that the Ontario Greens punch well above our weight,” he said. “Aislinn Clancy and I have an outsized influence in the legislature and we’re going to continue to do that.”

Unsurprisingly, Schriener said the snap election is an opportunity for change.

“We’re going to continue to be pushing forward on our strategy to build more homes people can afford in communities they love. We’re going to ensure that Ontario’s not dead last in per capita funding for health care so we can shore up our hospitals, improve home and community care.”

Clancy, former city councillor and incumbent MPP for Kitchener Centre, is hoping to earn a second term at Queen’s Park. Her eyes are fixed not only on her own riding, but on the people outside of Kitchener’s borders as well.

“I hear that the rural communities feel abandoned. They’re seeing their emergency rooms close. They’re seeing a downloading of costs onto people’s property taxes to maintain roads and bridges. We need to support rural municipalities, ensuring that those supports are there.”

Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford launches campaign in Windsor

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie launches campaign in Barrie

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles launches campaign in Toronto

Can a snap election serve as an opportunity to grow?

While Schreiner and Clancy are putting on confident faces as they try to drum up support, some political analysts said snap elections can be particularly difficult for smaller parties.

“The opposition parties, and particularly the Greens, are going to be struggling with a lack of resources, a lack of time and a lack of focus on the environment as an issue,” Peter Woolstencroft, retired political science professor at the University of Waterloo, said. “They play a very important role in our legislative process, but I’m afraid that their voices will not be heard during this election campaign.”

Woolstencroft said the tough talk from U.S. President Donald Trump may also hurt some of the parties.

“I am worried about what the tariffs are going to do to the Ontario economy. It’s going to be very hard for the Greens, and let’s face it, for the Liberals and the [New Democratic Party] to get their message out,” he explained.

Eligible voters will head to the polls on Feb. 27.