Latest news with #GoldieGhamari
CBC
28-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
City councillor George Darouze to be Carleton's new MPP
Social Sharing The three-term Ottawa city councillor for the rural Osgoode ward will now represent the area at Queen's Park. CBC projects Progressive Conservative George Darouze has won Carleton. The riding makes up a large chunk of south Ottawa, bordering Orléans and Glengarry-Prescott-Russell to the east, and Kanata-Carleton and Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston to the west. It includes communities such as Metcalfe, Osgoode and Stittsville and was first contested in 2018. The area's history of voting Progressive Conservative goes back further. Goldie Ghamari won Carleton for the PCs in 2018 and 2022 with about 50 per cent of the vote, but was removed from the party caucus last year after meeting with a far-right British activist and anti-Islam campaigner. She then sat as an Independent and said shortly after the campaign began that she would not be seeking re-election. The victorious Darouze moved to the Ottawa area from Lebanon in 1990, becoming involved in the telecommunications industry and community groups — particularly around snowmobiling — according to his biography on the city's website. Eight candidates ran for the seat.
CBC
25-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Carleton voters choosing a fresh face as MPP
What voters in the riding of Carleton are thinking this time around 4 minutes ago Duration 3:17 Social Sharing Voters in the big rural Ottawa riding of Carleton will elect a new Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) this week after Progressive Conservative-turned-Independent Goldie Ghamari announced she would not run in the provincial election. John Barresi operates a roofing and siding business out of Richmond. He's worried about a tariff war and what it would mean to his bottom line if Canada slaps retaliatory tariffs on the products he imports from the U.S. "A lot of the products I use are manufactured in the U.S.," said Barresi. "There's a lot of uncertainty there. So I feel that [PC Leader Doug Ford] has made that a priority. Although I've traditionally never voted Progressive Conservative, I will this time around." Ghamari won the riding with about 50 per cent of the vote in 2018 and 2022, but was removed from caucus last June after meeting with a far-right British activist and anti-Islam campaigner. "Goldie was a great MPP," said Nick Morabito, who works out at the Anytime Fitness gym, where he says politics is a popular topic of conversation. "We weren't too impressed that she got exited from caucus and didn't really agree with why." Despite the ouster, Morabito, a fuel broker who has spoken publicly about gender policies in schools, said he still plans to vote for a right-of-centre party. Vast, mainly rural riding Carleton makes up a large chunk of south Ottawa, including communities such as Metcalfe, Osgoode and Stittsville, and was first contested in 2018. The area's history of voting Progressive Conservative goes back further and federally, it's held by Conservative Leader Pierre Polievre. "It's been like that forever," said Michael Driscroll, owner of the Manotick Paint Store. "I think [Doug Ford] is going to win anyway. He's pretty much a shoo-in. Let him take another shot at it." Driscoll admits he does not have a family doctor. "I guess I'd find a doctor if I got sick," he said. Medical manufacturing consultant Pietro Zanetti describes himself as an undecided voter, but when he heads into the ballot box he'll be thinking about health care. "People are suffering. The health-care system is broken," said Zanetti, who has family members who work in that sector. "You go to emergency and you're waiting … [up to] 12 hours which is absurd." Carol McDivitt experienced that first-hand. "I'm not one to use the hospital very often, but I did have an emergency last year and … and the [number of] people in the waiting room was not acceptable," she said. "What are people supposed to do?" Paul Haskins owns two electric cars and would like more power generation in eastern Ontario. "We're on the end of some very long lines coming all the way from Toronto," said Haskins. The former Newbridge Networks executive who moved the region from the United Kingdom 28 years ago said he's tired of electricity outages, exacerbated by climate change-driven extreme weather events. "In the middle of winter, that's a real problem." Helena Simard said she'll be thinking about the cost of living when she places her vote. "Hydro is pretty crazy, even being on equal billing," said Simard. She especially resents regulatory charges. Simard was grocery shopping and picked up a small bag of grapes, but when it came time to weigh and pay, she balked. "I'm not paying $10 for that," said Simard, who put the fruit back. "I guess it's just a matter of principle. I just can't wrap my head around paying that much money for the tiniest little bit of grapes. I just can't do it." Simard is also considering homeschooling her four-year-old daughter Amelia in the fall. She doesn't think the school system adequately prepared her two older children, ages 17 and 21, and now she has a chance for a do-over with her youngest. "This is the first time in two decades, since I've been a mom, that I'm actually contemplating [homeschooling]," said Simard.
CBC
11-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ontario Votes 2025: Carleton
Carleton makes up a large chunk of south Ottawa, bordering Orléans and Glengarry–Prescott Russell to the east, and Kanata–Carleton and Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston to the west. It includes communities such as Metcalfe, Osgoode and Stittsville and was first contested in 2018. The area's history of voting Progressive Conservative goes back further. Goldie Ghamari won Carleton for the PCs in 2018 and 2022 with about 50 per cent of the vote, but was removed from the party caucus last year after meeting with a far-right British activist and anti-Islam campaigner. She then sat as an Independent and said shortly after the campaign began she would not be seeking re-election. Four candidates are currently running for the seat. CBC adds candidates when they're confirmed by Elections Ontario or listed by one of the four parties with a seat at Queen's Park at dissolution. Nominations close Feb. 13. Voting is now possible at local election offices. Advance voting locations are open Feb. 20-22. Voting day is Feb. 27. Elections Ontario has more information on the range of voting options. Brandon Bay, Liberal The software developer ran for Ottawa mayor among a crowded field in 2022, finishing in the middle of the pack. George Darouze, PC The three-term Ottawa city councillor for the rural ward of Osgoode is running to represent the area provincially. Sherin Faili, NDP The party hasn't shared information about this candidate. Rob Stocki, New Blue The former police officer and owner of a business that helps build sunrooms says he was proudly involved in the 2022 convoy protest in Ottawa. Have your say
CBC
31-01-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Goldie Ghamari not seeking re-election
Goldie Ghamari, the two-time MPP for Ottawa's Carleton riding whose second term saw her ousted from the Progressive Conservative caucus, is not running for re-election in the 2025 provincial election. Ghamari made the announcement in a statement posted to X on Friday morning, three days into the campaign. She won the Carleton riding for the PCs in 2018 and 2022 with about 50 per cent of the vote, but was removed from the party caucus last year after meeting with a far-right British activist and anti-Islam campaigner. She then sat as an Independent. Her departure from the race guarantees voters in Carleton will see a new face in office after polls close on Feb. 27. Running without the support of a party would have been tough sledding, according to Geneviève Tellier, a professor of political studies at the University of Ottawa "It's always very difficult for [Independents] to be elected," she said. Two candidates are currently running for Ghamari's former seat: Brandon Bay for the Liberals and George Darouze for the Progressive Conservatives. CBC adds candidates to its riding profiles when they're confirmed by Elections Ontario or listed by one of the four parties with a seat at Queen's Park at dissolution. 'This is not a goodbye' Ghamari became the first Iranian-Canadian woman to hold elected office in Canada when she won the seat in 2018, according to her statement. "I want to thank the people of Carleton for welcoming me with open arms," she wrote. "I am a better person than when I first got elected, all because of the people of Carleton." As for her future plans, Ghamari referred to closing "this chapter" of her political career and concluded her statement by hinting at a possible return in the future.
