SIMCOE NORTH NDP CANDIDATE ELIZABETH VAN HOUTTE

VAN HOUTTE FIRST CAMPAIGNED FOR NDP IN 2015

CANDIDATE NAME: Dr. Elizabeth Van Houtte

RIDING: Simcoe North

PARTY: New Democratic Party

AGE: 58

OCCUPATION: Social worker

RESIDES IN: Orillia

PAST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: My interest in politics is directly connected to my profession as a social worker, whereby policies affect our everyday life.

I ran in the 2014 municipal election in Orillia. My first attempt at provincial politics was the 2015 Simcoe North byelection and again in 2018 I proudly represented the NDP.

HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE PROVINCE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE AND WHY? F grade. COVID-19 intensified long-standing disregard for Ontarians. Nearly 4,000 elders in (longterm care) died and years of regulatory neglect were exposed.

Small businesses struggled with inconsistent policy, and many fell victim to Ford's indecision.

Families and children struggled due to inept education policy. Health care took a beating, and essential workers struggled to fill gaps left by years of "efficiencies."

Ford and his caucus played politics with a medical emergency, revealing their lack of basic leadership capability.

IF ELECTED I PLEDGE TO: Be visible, available and responsive. To listen to all constituents of Simcoe North. I will fight to fix our broken education and health care, restructure LTC and be active in all our neighbourhoods. I know that when people are healthy, educated and involved, the result is a strong and vibrant community.