MEET JENNIFER TUCK, WATERLOO'S LIBERAL CANDIDATE

CANDIDATE NAME: Jennifer Tuck

RIDING: Waterloo

PARTY: Liberal Party of Ontario

AGE: 46

OCCUPATION: CEO of the Maritimes Energy Association (MEA), a not-for-profit trade association representing all aspects of the energy sector in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI. (I moved to Nova Scotia in 2019 but relocated back to Ontario last year to be closer to family. I'm fortunate that the board of directors is supportive of me working remotely.)

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Kitchener

PAST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: I have been active in the Liberal party both federally and provincially since childhood (my mother was active in the party as well). I spent almost a decade at Queen's Park, first working for Liberal MPPS when the party was the Official Opposition and as a senior policy adviser to ministers at Natural Resources, Energy and Municipal Affairs and Housing when the Liberal party was in power.

HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE PROVINCE'S COVID-19 RESPONSE AND WHY?:

D The Ford Conservatives' handling of the pandemic was consistent with their approach to most other issues. They kept big box stores open while closing and neglecting small businesses. They sent rapid tests to private schools while denying them to public schools. They let the federal government do all the heavy lifting while hoarding those funds and keeping them from going where they were needed. The fact they cut the COVID protection budget in our schools by $2 billion last year tells you everything you need to know about their choices and priorities.

IF ELECTED, I PLEDGE ... : to focus on the issues that matter to Waterloo residents like affordable housing, universal access to quality health-care services, including mental health care and protecting our environment from the impacts of climate change. I want to be the kind of MPP that is accessible to local residents, and I am committed to bringing their issues to Queen's Park.