Wellington—Halton Hills

Wellington—Halton Hills is a predominantly rural and small-town riding spanning parts of Wellington County and the Town of Halton Hills in southwestern Ontario. The riding includes communities such as Fergus, Elora, Arthur, Mount Forest, Georgetown, and Acton. It had been represented by Progressive Conservative Ted Arnott since 1990, making him one of the longest-serving members in the history of the Ontario Legislature. In 2018, Arnott was elected Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, a role that limited his partisan advocacy but highlighted his reputation as a consensus-builder.

Candidates

Ted Arnott (Progressive Conservative) — Born in Fergus and raised in Arthur, Arnott holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Diploma in Business Administration. Before entering politics, he served as executive assistant to MPP Jack Johnson. First elected in 1990 at the age of 27, he was then the youngest member of the PC caucus. He was elected Speaker of the Ontario Legislature on July 11, 2018, and sought re-election to a ninth consecutive term in 2022.

Diane Ballantyne (NDP) — A high school teacher at Centre Wellington District High School and a Wellington County councillor for Ward 6 since 2018. Ballantyne had lived in Fergus for 25 years and served on the board of the United Way Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin.

Ryan Kahro (Green) — A stay-at-home mother of three who grew up on a farm and was drawn to the Green Party by its positions on agriculture and the environment. She campaigned on opposing urban sprawl and the proposed Highway 413.

Tom Takacs (Liberal) — A master electrician, adult educator, and small business owner who taught college and continuing education courses focused on the trades.

Other candidates included Stephen Kitras (New Blue) and Ron Patava (Consensus Ontario).

Local Issues

Rural broadband access was one of the most pressing issues in Wellington—Halton Hills during the 2018–2022 term. Candidates across party lines acknowledged that the province needed to do more to bring high-speed internet to rural communities, noting that modern farming practices were increasingly dependent on broadband connectivity. The lack of reliable internet also hampered access to mental health services and other supports in smaller communities across the riding.

Farmland protection and urban sprawl emerged as a major point of contention. The Wellington Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture expressed deep opposition to development that consumed prime agricultural land. Critics accused the Ford government of using rising housing costs to justify an urban sprawl agenda, while some candidates pledged not to use Ministerial Zoning Orders to override local planning and pave over farmland. The proposed Highway 413, while not directly in the riding, was debated as a symbol of the government's development priorities.

Housing affordability was also a focal point, as prices in traditionally affordable small towns like Fergus, Elora, and Georgetown rose sharply during the pandemic. Candidates debated how to accommodate growth while preserving the rural character and agricultural heritage that define the riding.