Greens choose new uOttawa grad to challenge Naqvi in Ottawa Centre

By Carlos Verde

The Green Party of Ontario announced Dec. 7 that recent U of O grad Cherie Wong will run as its Ottawa Centre candidate in the 2018 provincial election.

Wong will be up against Liberal incumbent Yasir Naqvi — Ottawa Centre MPP since 2007 and currently the province’s attorney general — NDP candidate Joel Harden and a yet-to-be-determined Progressive Conservative candidate.

Wong, a 2017 graduate of the University of Ottawa, has been involved with the party’s youth wing for more than a year.

“It is time to look beyond short-term fixes and begin planning for long-term solutions,” Wong said in a party statement announcing her candidacy. “I look forward to meeting with constituents and community organizations that work for people.”

The selection of a 20-something candidate should bolster the party’s broader effort to engage youth voters.

“Cherie is tireless in her efforts to create positive change, especially in increasing youth participation in our democracy,” said provincial Green Party leader Mike Schreiner. “I know she will be a strong advocate for the citizens of Ottawa Centre.”

Schreiner’s Greens have never held a seat at Queen’s Park, and have seen numbers dip in recent elections due to tightly contested races between the other parties.