Green candidate in Waterloo endorses NDP, cites vote-splitting as a concern
Shefaza Esmail, the Green candidate in Waterloo, says she's endorsing NDP candidate and incumbent Catherine Fife in that riding.
Esmail made the comment Monday morning following a candidate panel on CBC K-W's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris.
Esmail was answering a reporter's question about funding to universities and colleges when she offered the endorsement, saying she's concerned about vote splitting in the riding.
"If you are inclined toward voting Green, I think that you should, but also consider this: You like the Green movement, that's amazing. If you're in Kitchener Centre, you should vote for [Green candidate] Aislinn Clancy because she has the best chance of winning, but when you're in Waterloo riding right now, there is a worry that by taking votes away from the NDP, the PC government might come back in Waterloo. And that is a real concern for me as well," she said.
"If you really like the Green movement, send me a message, tell me I'm doing great, tell me I can earn your vote for next time, but this time, vote Catherine Fife, vote NDP."
Esmail is running for the Green party for a second time.
Fife has been MPP for the riding since 2012 when she won a byelection.
There are eight people on the ballot in Waterloo:
Suja Biber, New Blue.
Shefaza Esmail, Green.
Catherine Fife, NDP (incumbent).
Peter House, Electoral Reform Party.
Chris Martin, Ontario Party.
Clayton Moore, Liberal.
James Schulz, Libertarian.
Peter Turkington, Progressive Conservatives.
Esmail's not alone in throwing support behind a rival during this Ontario election campaign. Natasha Doyle-Merrick, the NDP candidate in the Toronto riding of Eglinton-Lawrence, pulled out of the election earlier this month and threw her support behind the Liberals.
In that riding, Doyle-Merrick said it was a "clear two-party contest" between the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives.
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