Niagara Falls MPP mulling over a bid for Ontario NDP leadership

After leader Andrea Horwath’s decision to step down as NDP leader following the results of the June 2 Provincial election, a number of MPPs have been quietly showing some interest in the position.

One of them is Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates, who was a 12-year autoworker union local president before becoming MPP for the riding that also covers Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie.

Gates told a Toronto daily today (June 16) that he’s exploring the possibility, saying that as a former voice for workers in his past job, he feels he can equally be a strong voice for all Ontario workers.

Gates has held the Niagara Falls riding since 2014, meaning he has been an NDP voice at Queen’s Park under both the Liberals and the Conservatives.

The NDP dropped to 31 seats in the last election from the 40 they had held previously as Premier Doug Ford’s Conservatives gained an even bigger majority than in 2018. Regardless, given the weak showing of the Liberals, the NDP have remained the Official Opposition at Queen’s Park.

Neither the NDP nor the Liberals have set a date for a leadership vote.