Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party is hoping a high-profile law-and-order candidate can help wrest a riding away from the Liberals that’s been held by former premier Kathleen Wynne for almost 20 years.
Mark Saunders, who made history as Toronto’s first Black police chief, is set to run in Don Valley West in this June’s election.
Saunders retired from the Toronto Police Service two years ago. He was subsequently appointed to provide guidance to Premier Doug Ford and Tourism and Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod on the future of Ontario Place.
“I’m honored to have been chosen by Doug Ford as the 2022 Ontario PC candidate for Don Valley West,” Saunders said in a written statement.
“Doug and I have worked closely over the years, and I’ve always admired his strong leadership and dedication to supporting Ontarians, especially over the last two years.”
Saunders said the election comes at “a critical time in Ontario’s history as we recover from the impacts of the pandemic, and it is clear the Ontario PC Party has a strong plan to build a better future for our families and future generations to come, whether it’s investing in transit, building highways, strengthening our health care system, or supporting workers and cutting costs for Ontarians.”
The NDP is running former provincial child advocate Irwin Elman in Don Valley West. The Liberal candidate is Stephanie Bowman, a former bank executive who served on the board of the Bank of Canada.
Saunders is following in the footsteps of Julian Fantino and Bill Blair, who went into federal politics — for the Conservatives and Liberals, respectively — after leading the country’s largest police force.
“There is no one I’d rather have on the ballot in Don Valley West than Mark,” Ford said in a statement. “Mark brings an incredible amount of experience serving with the Toronto Police Service for nearly four decades. I’m thrilled to have him join our team and have no doubt he’ll be an incredible voice at Queen’s Park.”
Saunders emigrated from England in 1967 and has lived in Toronto for almost 40 years. He is married and has four children.
Wynne won the Don Valley West seat in the 2018 election that ended her term as premier. She recently announced she would not seek re-election.
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