Ajax

Ajax is a fast-growing suburban community in Durham Region, east of Toronto, with a 2021 Census population of 126,666. The riding was left without an incumbent heading into the 2022 election after Rod Phillips, who had held the seat since 2018, announced in January 2022 that he would not seek re-election and subsequently resigned his seat. Phillips had served as Minister of Finance before stepping down from that portfolio in late 2020 over a Caribbean vacation taken contrary to public health guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was later named Minister of Long-Term Care before retiring from politics. The open seat attracted strong candidates from multiple parties in what became a competitive race.

Candidates

Patrice Barnes (Progressive Conservative) — A Durham District School Board trustee first elected in 2014, Barnes had represented Ajax students and parents on the board for nearly a decade. She was known in the community as a cultural organizer and community safety advocate.

Amber Bowen (Liberal) — An elementary school teacher and trade unionist, Bowen was an elected representative within her local of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), where she advocated on behalf of educators.

Christine Santos (NDP) — An entrepreneur and educator with over 20 years of experience in child and youth development, human resources, journalism, and media production. Santos pledged to fight for the rights of immigrants and workers and to support small businesses and public mental health care.

Neil Runnalls (Green Party), Garry Reader (New Blue Party), Aaron Hopkins (Ontario Party), and independents Intab Ali and Allen Hadley also ran.

Local Issues

Ajax, like much of the Greater Toronto Area, faced acute housing affordability pressures heading into the 2022 election. The provincial government had set a target of 17,000 new homes for the Town of Ajax by 2031 as part of its province-wide goal of 1.5 million new homes in ten years. Rapid population growth — Ajax grew by 5.8 percent between 2016 and 2021 — put strain on local infrastructure and services, with residents calling for more investment in roads, transit connections, and community facilities.

Health care access was a top concern across Durham Region, with residents facing long wait times for family physicians and specialists. The pandemic had further exposed gaps in the long-term care system, an issue that had taken on personal significance in the riding given Phillips's former role as Long-Term Care Minister. Education funding and class sizes also figured prominently in local debates, particularly as schools reopened after pandemic disruptions.

Transportation and commuter infrastructure remained perennial issues for Ajax residents, many of whom commute to Toronto for work. The extension of GO Transit service, improvements to Highway 401, and investment in local transit routes were key demands from residents seeking relief from growing congestion throughout the Durham Region corridor.