The 43rd Parliament of the Province of Ontario has been dissolved as of 4:00 pm on January 28, following Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont’s approval of Premier Doug Ford’s request. This starts the countdown to the next provincial election, originally scheduled for June 2026, which will now take place on February 27. 

With election day right around the corner, here’s what students need to know about how to vote, where to vote, and who they can vote for.

How and where students can vote 

Only students who are Canadian citizens, residents of Ontario, and 18 years of age or older are eligible to vote in provincial elections. Voters must register online by February 17 to receive a voter information card (VIC), which must be brought, along with identification showing the name, to the polling station in order to vote. In lieu of a VIC, identification detailing your name and home address is accepted. Students who live and study in one electoral district but have a permanent Ontario home address in another can choose to vote in either district.

Students interested in voting by mail must apply online by 6:00 pm on February 21 to receive a ballot, which must be returned to Elections Ontario by 6:00 pm on February 27 to be counted.

Those who wish to vote early can do so from February 20–22 at an advance voting location. Alternatively, they can vote any time before 6:00 pm on February 26 at their local election office. These offices are located at 2 Bloor Street West near UTSG, the Malvern Medical Arts Building near UTSC, and the South Common Centre near UTM.

Same-day voting can be done on February 27 between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm at your assigned voting location.

UTSG candidates: University—Rosedale

Jessica Bell, a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP), has served as MPP for the University—Rosedale riding since 2018, advocating for improved healthcare, affordable housing, and climate change action. 

The Ontario Liberal Party’s Pamela Jeffery is also the founder of The Prosperity Project — a registered charity that aims to advance women’s economic prosperity through research and mentorships. Jeffery champions policies to address the cost of living and strengthen small businesses. 

Ignacio Mongrell, from the Green Party of Ontario (GPO), focuses on supporting startups while advocating for sustainability and equity principles. 

Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate Sydney Pothakos is the current Director of Policy at the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and a strong proponent of Ford and his policies.

UTSC Scarborough—Rouge Park

Vijay Thanigasalam, a PC MPP, has served the Scarborough—Rouge Park riding since 2018. During his time in office, he helped establish the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health at UTSC and contributed to the development of the Scarborough Subway Extension. 

Representing the ONDP, Hibah Sidat has worked on issues such as housing affordability and aims to address the high cost of living in Scarborough—Rouge Park. 

Other candidates include Morris Beckford (Liberal), Tim James (None of the Above Direct Democracy Party), and Wai Kiat Tang (Communist Party of Canada — Ontario).

UTM candidates: Mississauga—Erin Mills

Since 2018, Mississauga-Erin Mills’ PC MPP Sheref Sabawy has helped pass legislation aimed at developing Ontario by renovating a community centre, building a school, and expanding transit services. 

Also vying for the seat is Adriane Franklin, representing the GPO, who is a supply teacher who aims to foster “a healthier, accessible future” for her riding. 

Also in the running is Liberal candidate Qasir Dar, a grassroots organizer focused on cost of living, healthcare, safety, and housing concerns. 

Michael Bayer is also running, reportedly as a member of both the New Blue Party and the People’s Party of Canada (PPC), as indicated by two separate Facebook pages where he announced his candidacy. The PPC is not a registered party with Elections Ontario, which lists him as a New Blue candidate. The New Blue party is focused on removing what they refer to as ‘woke’ activism from the government, including all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. 

Also nominated is ONDP candidate Mubashir Rizvi, a lawyer at M.H.R Law Firm Professional Corporation, where he specializes in family law, real estate law, litigation, and personal injury law.