College professor Kelly DeRidder seeks Conservative nomination in Kitchener Centre
"Kitchener Centre is my heart and home. I am motivated to work beyond feel-good politics and empower Kitchener Centre to take back its future."
Kelly DeRidder, born and raised in Kitchener, is seeking the Conservative Party nomination in the Kitchener Centre riding. A graduate of Conestoga College with a specialization in robotics and automation as a mechanical engineering technologist, DeRidder is also a professor at the college.
Though DeRidder resides in Cambridge, she is running for nomination in Kitchener Centre. She said her connection to the riding runs deep as she got married there, her daughter was born at Grand River Hospital, and she works in Kitchener Centre.
DeRidder said she is motivated to run due to the country's drug crisis, which she said is "deeply personal" to her. In an interview on the Sami Parvez Show, she described a walk through Victoria Park with her infant daughter that opened her eyes to the gravity of the problem when they encountered a man openly using drugs in public.
"I wasn’t angry with him, but I was angry at a system that perpetuates addiction with inefficient policies," she said.
"I am a huge advocate for rehabilitation and putting support systems in place to bring our family members and loved ones home, rehabilitated, drug-free, and contributing members of society. I’m frustrated, and it’s time to move past these failed social experiments and deliver real results for our community, especially here in Kitchener Centre. That’s why I’ve decided to run."
As a candidate, DeRidder advocates for more rehabilitation centres rather than safe supply injection sites.
"I disagree with the safe injection sites. The policies in place are not working, and we are literally in an opioid pandemic," she said when asked about the demand for more safe supply sites after the Ontario government called for shutting them down. "Safe supply isn’t working; we need to implement rehabilitation. That’s what needs to happen—not safe supply."
DeRidder criticized the idea of safe injection sites, saying, "There’s a misconception, even in the term ‘safe injection site,’ because it’s not safe. It’s not safe for our communities, our children, or even the addict. It isn’t helping eliminate the addiction problem; it’s feeding it."
As a Conservative nominee, she also supports a "balanced and effective" immigration strategy that would help Kitchener Centre.
"Canada needs immigration, but it has to be done responsibly. It needs to keep pace with our jobs, healthcare, housing, and current infrastructure. Responsible governance includes responsible immigration policies," she said.
DeRidder emphasized the need for a holistic approach to addressing current challenges.
"We are putting band-aid solutions to the problems right now, and it needs to be re-evaluated. We need to take a step back and look at everything—our healthcare, our jobs, and our housing—and make a more balanced approach to move forward."
When asked about the housing crisis, DeRidder said, "I stand with the Conservatives on putting municipalities in charge of building more homes. The plan is to increase housing by 15 per cent, and the federal government will help fund that. But if you don’t meet that target, you don’t get the funding."
"We don’t have enough homes being built. Look at our inventory of homes to rent or buy—it’s just not enough," she said.
DeRidder also advocates for the abolition of the carbon tax, calling it "a failure."
"It hasn’t reduced carbon emissions in Canada, and the costs are being passed to the consumer, contributing to inflation and the rising cost of living. As someone responsible for millions in budgetary dollars daily, I have the skills to advocate for fiscal responsibility and address rising concerns in Kitchener Centre."
She said her candidacy stands out for three reasons.
"First, I would have a voice in the ruling party, not just an opposition party. All the polls are showing that the Conservatives are set to form a majority government. Second, Kitchener Centre is my heart and home. I am motivated to work beyond feel-good politics and empower Kitchener Centre to take back its future. And third, in my current job, I deliver results—it's what I do. If elected, I would be an advocate for Kitchener Centre, adding value and delivering real change."
When asked about her environmental stance, DeRidder said, "The carbon tax should be fully abolished. It’s not impacting our carbon emissions, and I align with the Conservatives in advocating for green initiatives and focusing on technology, not taxes. We need solutions that help the environment without burdening people."
“'Sami, you're my first interview, and I will interview with you again,” she said when asked if she would continue to give interviews to independent journalists if elected, as most elected officials decline to interview with independent journalists.
Kitchener Centre is a swing riding, currently held by the Green Party after winning it from the Liberals in the 2021 election. According to 338Canada projections, the Greens are projected to hold the seat with 40 per cent of the vote, followed by the Conservatives at 29 per cent, the Liberals at 15 per cent, the NDP at 11 per cent, and the People's Party of Canada (PPC) at 3 per cent.
To learn more about Kelly DeRidder campaign visit here: https://www.kellyderidder.ca
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