Robert Deutschmann named as Ontario Liberal candidate, resigns from regional council

A member of Region of Waterloo council is leaving his seat for a shot at a provincial political job.

Rob Deutschmann has been named the Liberal candidate for Cambridge, according to a news release from the Cambridge Provincial Liberal Association.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to represent the Cambridge community as the Liberal candidate,” Deutschmann said in the release. “Cambridge is a vibrant, growing city with immense potential. Together, we can work to create a brighter future for everyone by focusing on key issues such as securing public health care that works for our community – including mental health and addiction, supporting our teachers and workers in education, negotiating a new deal for municipalities that makes life more affordable for residents of Cambridge, and protecting local businesses and jobs.”

In an email to CTV News Kitchener, Deutschmann confirmed he has resigned, effective as of Wednesday.

“I just felt that as the candidate, I wanted to be all in,” he explained in an interview. “And based on my education, training, background, my experiences, which are different than other people’s, I just felt that was the right decision for me as I embark on this new campaign in my life.”

Deutschmann is not the only regional councillor who is setting their sights on Queen’s Park. Regional Councillor Colleen James was named as the Ontario Liberal’s candidate for the Kitchener Centre riding in December. In an email to CTV News Kitchener, she confirmed she has not resigned from her post with the region and will continue to be an active member of council until the writ is officially called. At that time, she plans to take a leave of absence from regional council. She will be running against current Green MPP Aislinn Clancy. The Ontario Progressive Conservatives and NDP have not yet named candidates for that riding.

Deutschmann is a lawyer by trade and deals with personal injury cases.

Politically, he served as mayor for the Township of North Dumfries from 2010 until 2014. During that time, he was a member of the Grand River Conservation Authority and also on the board for Energy Plus.

He has been on regional council for six years.

In a statement, the region said once a councillor hands in their resignation, the Municipal Act requires council to declare that seat vacant at its next meeting. Council is then required, within the following 60 days, to either appoint a person to fill the vacancy or pass a bylaw to set off a byelection.

Other candidates

Other political parties have also announced their local candidates for the next provincial election.

The Ontario NDP nominated Marjorie Knight as their pick. Knight ran for the NDP in 2018 and received the 2024 Women of Distinction Award by the YWCA Cambridge in recognition for her community work. She currently serves on the boards for the Cambridge Shelter Corp. and the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area. She is also employed as a family outreach worker with the House of Friendship in Cambridge.

A familiar face will also be running again for the Green Party of Ontario. Earlier this month, Carla Johnson was named as their candidate. She also ran in 2022. Johnson previously worked as a middle school teacher and was the vice president of Corporate Affairs for the Bravo Group in Mississauga. She has self-published two books and serves on the committee for the Cambridge Poppy Project.

Progressive Conservative MPP Brian Riddell currently represents the Cambridge riding at Queen’s Park. He also works as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement and is a member of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.

Last election

During the last provincial election in 2022, Riddell claimed 37 per cent of the vote in the Cambridge riding, followed by NDP candidate Marjorie Knight with 22 per cent, and Liberal Surekha Shenoy with 20 per cent. Belinda Karahalios, with the New Blue Party of Ontario, came in fourth with 11 per cent of the vote and Carla Johnson came last with almost 9 per cent.

Only 39,591 voters cast a ballot in Cambridge – approximately 43 per cent of all eligible voters.

When is the next election?

No date has been set for the next election, but there are some rumblings at the provincial legislature.

“Stay tuned,” Premier Doug Ford said on Wednesday when asked if he plans on calling an early election. “We need a mandate from the people.”

Multiple media reports have cited sources that suggest an election announcement could come as soon as next week.

Elections in Ontario must be called on a Wednesday, so if it is made next week, voters would likely cast their ballots 28 days later, on Feb. 27.