Justin Trudeau calls federal election for Sept. 20

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canadians are heading to the polls for a federal election in a few short weeks.

Liberal Leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on Sunday (Aug. 15), where his request to dissolve Parliament was approved, and Canada's 44th federal election officially began, with the vote scheduled for Sept. 20. 

Party candidates will have 36 days to campaign – the minimum number of days permitted by law.

Here are the candidates for the Dufferin-Caledon riding:

Conservatives: Kyle Seeback

Seeback is the current MP of the Dufferin Caledon riding. Seeback who was previously the MP for the Brampton West riding from 2011 until 2015, won the Dufferin-Caledon seat in the 2019 federal election with 42 percent
of the vote. Seeback's campaign priorities for re-election include job security, toughening accountability and transparency laws, mental health, securing Canada from future pandemics, and economic recovery. 

Dufferin-Caledon has been a Conservative riding since 2004, when the seat was won by David Tilson. 

For more information on Seeback's campaign, go to www.kyleseeback.com or contact him through email (kyle@kyleseeback.com), or phone at 1-833-KYLE4MP.

Liberals: Lisa Post 

A native of the Orangeville community, Lisa Post was elected to Orangeville Town Council in 2018. Post currently sits as chair on the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Cultural Plan Task Force, and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is also a founding organizer of Dufferin County's first Pride Festival, Celebrate Your Awesome. 

Post, in December of 2020 submitted her paperwork seeking Dufferin-Caledon MP candidacy, and was selected as the Liberal candidate for Dufferin-Caledon in April. 

Post's campaign priorities include economic recovery, rural broadband, environmental sustainability, and diversity and inclusion. 

For information on Post's campaign, go to www.lisapost.ca or contact her at lisa@lisapost.ca. 

Green Party: Jenni Le Forestier

Jenni Le Forestier, a resident of Belfountain who operates the Belfountain Cottage Music, was announced as the Green Party candidate in July. Le Forestier's campaign priorities including addressing the growing climate
crisis, human-health and economic security, and growth in new jobs in the green economy. 

Some of the key issues she's hoping to combat if elected is stopping the proposed GTA West Corridor (Highway 413) and addressing aggregate issues, where gravel is being extracted below the water table. 

Creating stronger protections for the environment is another area of focus for Le Forestier.

For more information on Le Forestier's campaign, go to www.dcgreens.ca or contact her at jenni.leforestier@gpc.ca. 

NDP: 

At the time of print, the NDP has yet to announce their selected candidate for the Dufferin-Caledon riding. 

Community members can vote in the 2021 federal election on the day of or through other avenues including advance polling (Sept. 10-13), Elections Canada office (until Sept.14), and mail-in ballot. 

The election will be held on Sept. 20.