Erica Charlton

Green Party of Ontario

Erica Charlton was raised in Prince Edward County. She is a mother and a Carleton University graduate. While she lived in Ottawa for nearly a decade, she worked closely with the financial needs of a wide demographic of people living in Canada through finding solutions for their communication access with the Canadian company Glentel. At the same time she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Law and also a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Charlton says she repeatedly proved her skills as a dynamic team leader in the high-pressure, ever-changing world of technology all while volunteering with the CKCU radio station. Other volunteering paths led her to participate in many active fundraising campaigns such as Spin- ForKids and the Canadian Children’s Hospital Foundation. Having recently moved back to the Quinte region, Charlton says she is enthusiastic about actively contributing to the long-term well-being and prosperity of the area. As someone who grew up biking to Sandbanks, participating in soccer tournaments in the fields of PECI, working in local Picton establishments, and visiting the many community centers for hockey or agricultural events, Charlton says she has a deep appreciation for the region. Charlton is currently pursuing a third B.A. in Canadian Studies focusing on Indigenous relations while she concurrently finishes a diploma in Computer Programming. She intends to raise her family locally and is committed to contributing positively to the development of this area.

Charlton says that the Green Party of Canada wants to immediately initiate a national Guaranteed Livable Income to address the peaking affordability issues of Canada. “This program will allow more flexibility for provinces and municipalities to provide better opportunities and services to their respective residents,” she says. “Additionally, by declaring the unaffordable housing situation a crisis in Canada, we can begin the process of appointing a federal housing minister that can work ‘intergovernmentally’, collaboratively with all levels of government’ to efficiently establish resolutions via focussed infrastructure plans.” Charlton says her party also supports the construction of an electrical transport system that will provide better opportunities for rural and out of city resident to commute which she says will create accessible and sustainable communities.

With a declining population in Prince Edward County, Charlton says that barriers need to be broken down to attract folks to rural Ontario communities. “By being a provincial leader in forward thinking green business, social, and wellness initiatives we can create a community that will be attractive to families, tradespeople, entrepreneurs and medical professionals,” says Charlton. “In creating a social safety net that gives every Canadian equal opportunity to succeed in life and by breaking down barriers that impact a persons ability to access education we will be able to grow an engaged workforce.”

When it comes to Canada’s deficit, Charlton says that the current state of the debt is astronomical and that it is impossible to continue to fund the amount of services Canadians desperately need while attempting to slash costs and reduce budgets. “Instead, we believe Canada should be investing in its citizens by operating under a net neutral budget until we are sure all Canadians have access to the services they require,” she says. Charlton also believes that by investing in research and development to resolve not only Canada’s climate issues but also providing technologies to other nations, the country will benefit from inevitable, disruptive technology and be able to corner the market on green innovation.

Charlton says that small business and localized industry will be the key to transitioning into a sustainable and resilient community. “During the pandemic we have seen how much we depend as a society on big business. The best plan for long-term success as a country is to give each person the financial stability to participate in the Canadian workforce,” she says. Charlton believes that the climate crisis as well as disruptive technology will rapidly fluctuate the employment opportunities in the country. “Farmers and small businesses should not be the first to suffer in the advent of change. If we want to preserve the integrity of the Canadian market we need a national e-commerce platform that is affordable, accessible, and supports all levels of technological proficiency.”