Algoma—Manitoulin

Algoma—Manitoulin is one of Ontario's largest and most geographically dispersed ridings, stretching across northeastern Ontario and encompassing Manitoulin Island, Elliot Lake, Espanola, Blind River, and Chapleau, along with numerous First Nations communities. Incumbent NDP MPP Michael Mantha had held the seat since winning it in the 2011 general election and was seeking his fourth term. The riding had traditionally alternated between the NDP and Liberals, and Mantha's strong personal following in the region made him a formidable candidate heading into the 2022 contest.

Candidates

Michael Mantha (NDP) — First elected in the 2011 general election, Mantha served as Ontario NDP Caucus Chair and as the Official Opposition's critic for Northern Development and Mines. A longtime northern Ontario advocate, he had pushed legislation to improve winter road maintenance on Highways 11 and 17 and championed broadband expansion in rural and remote communities.

Cheryl Fort (Progressive Conservative) — The Mayor of the Township of Hornepayne and a locomotive engineer with Canadian National Railway, Fort became the second female Indigenous mayor elected in Ontario when she won her municipal race in 2018. She also served as a Northern zone director for the Ontario Good Roads Association and had a background in community volunteering, including service as a school board trustee, library board chair, and hospital board member.

Tim Vine (Liberal) — The Chief Financial Officer and VP of Corporate Support Services at the Manitoulin Health Centre, Vine held a PhD in political science from Western University and served on community boards including the board of regents at the University of Sudbury and the Manitoulin Legal Aid board.

Ron Koski (New Blue Party), Maria Legault (Green Party), and Frederick Weening (Ontario Party) also sought election.

Local Issues

Health care dominated the 2022 campaign debate in Algoma—Manitoulin. The vast geography of the riding meant residents routinely had to travel hundreds of kilometres to access specialized medical care, often making the trip to Sudbury or Toronto. The shortage of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals in the region was acute, with multiple communities struggling to recruit and retain family physicians. Audience members at local debates raised concerns about the freeze on pay for some health care workers under the provincial government's Bill 124, which capped public sector wage increases.

Broadband internet and cellular service were critical infrastructure gaps across the riding. Mantha identified broadband expansion as his top concern, noting that reliable connectivity was essential for economic development, education, and emergency services in remote communities. Cell service remained spotty in areas near Blind River and along the highway to Chapleau, posing safety risks for travellers and residents alike.

Winter road maintenance on the Trans-Canada Highway was a longstanding safety issue. Mantha and his NDP colleagues had pushed legislation to improve maintenance standards on northern highways, but the government voted down the party's bill in 2019 and let similar measures die without action. Economic development, including attracting employers and building housing to support growth, was also a key concern. Fort argued that a more vibrant economy and increased housing supply were prerequisites for attracting the health care professionals the region so desperately needed.