Ashley Waters gives Conservatives C for COVID

As the Liberal Party candidate in the upcoming provincial election, Ashley Waters is taking what she calls the first step of her political journey.

She’s a political science honours graduate who wants to effect positive change, she says, and has been advocating throughout her career in the non-profit sector, and the organizations with which she is affiliated.

They include Niagara Connects, a Niagara-wide network for collaboration, planning, learning, innovation and community action toward a stronger future for Niagara, and NEXTNiagara, of which she is a founding member. NEXTNiagara is an organization tasked with supporting the next generation of talented community leaders, and showcasing the vibrancy and prosperity of the Niagara Region.

The time to run for office seems right for her, she says. “I was inspired to put my name forward after seeing Steven Del Duca on The Agenda with Steve Paikin. When I heard the leader of the Liberal Party offer an invitation for parity at Queen’s Park, I thought if not now, then when, and if not me, then who?”

At that time, Waters says her mother had been diagnosed and was courageously battling breast cancer. It was during the pandemic, and she was her mother’s primary care-giver, able to see some of the problems with the health care system first-hand. “We had to advocate for ourselves in the health system during the process, and fortunately, my mom is with us today.”

She was frustrated by the current government leadership “being so reactive,” especially to the pandemic.

“There is no blueprint for dealing with an unprecedented public health crisis. However, the pandemic can’t be an excuse for a government to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.”  

She gives the Conservative government a C grade for its handling of COVID.

Although the Ford Conservatives have claimed that Ontario is open for business, she says, many businesses in the province were either closed or operated at partial capacity for over 400 days during the pandemic. The province was also slow to expand testing capacity and vaccine clinics in hotspots, she adds.

“Although they love to call nurses heroes, which they absolutely are, the Conservatives passed Bill 124 to cap their wage increase. Students experienced significant loss of learning over the last two years because of the Ford government’s failure to provide our schools with necessary PPE and increase ventilation. Who can forget cuts to public health units prior to the pandemic that left them ill-prepared to tackle public health emergencies? The list goes on and on. It’s time for us to bring an end to that list and vote him out on June 2, 2022.”

“Steven Del Duca was calling for a new diverse team, and I am one of the 13 new candidates running for the first time. Steven has truly assembled a team of knowledge experts that represent Ontarians. I am proud to be amongst over 60 per cent female candidates of the Liberal party.”

If elected, says Waters, “I would collaborate with community members and knowledge experts to ensure we strengthen education, healthcare, create quality jobs, and increase affordability in the housing market, in order to make Niagara the most prosperous and inclusive we can be.”

She hears from constituents that they are concerned about affordability, housing prices, and mental health supports, she says, and is letting voters know that Steven Del Duca and the Liberal Party are addressing these issues in their platform.

For some of those who open their doors to her, a “civics lesson is required,” when they see a Liberal candidate as an opportunity to vent about their anti-Trudeau federal Liberal issues.

“I had my son and daughter with me,” she says, so they may have been a little more polite than they might have otherwise been. She told them “the Conservative government isn’t going to give you all you’re asking for either,” and although it was frustrating, she added, “it was also a good chance to have some open dialogue.” 

 Waters has worked for Scouts Canada as a non-profit manager the past 12 years, and was recently awarded the Business Link Media, Niagara top 40 under 40 Business Achievement Award for 2022.

This fall she was a finalist for the Women in Business Awards, in the category of Excellence in Non-Profit, through the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.

“I have roots in Niagara’s tourism industry,” she says. “I previously served as an opening team member for the Niagara Falls Convention Centre in sales and marketing, and worked as an Entertainment Coordinator at the Fallsview Casino Resort.

She and her husband are active volunteers in the community. She spearheaded fundraising efforts for young women affected by cancer through her work at Pink Pearl Canada, and “kickstarted the Niagara Falls Titans Soccer Club’s U8/9 girls’ travel team,” which her daughter Sasha plays on, and which she continues to help coach.

“As a mom, a volunteer, and lifelong Niagara resident with a reputation for delivering tangible progress, I can’t wait to help write the next chapter in our community’s brilliant history. With our constituents’ help, I am committed to making education, healthcare, affordable housing, quality jobs, and mental health top priorities at Queen’s Park.”

As she goes door to door, she says, she hears from people who are happy to see someone from a younger demographic step forward to run, bringing fresh perspectives.

 “My vision and mission has been steadfast for Niagara to be a vibrant and inclusive community that is empowered to create, connect, and collaborate through engagement.”