Gates ran as the federal
New Democratic Party's candidate in
Niagara Falls in the
2004 federal election and the
2006 federal election finishing third both times. He was elected as a city councillor in Niagara Falls, Ontario in 2010. He was re-elected in the
2014 provincial election defeating PC candidate Bart Maves by 7,429 votes. Gates is the only New Democrat in history to be re-elected in the Niagara Falls riding and holds the record for the highest vote tally of any candidate ever in the Niagara Falls provincial riding, at 24,131 votes. He surpassed that record in 2018 by winning 30,161 votes. Gates has served in several critic portfolio roles as part of the Ontario NDP caucus, including Transportation, Economic Development, workers' health and safety and Consumer Services. He is currently one of the Official Opposition's critics for Long-Term Care, Retirement Homes and Home Care. In 2016, he scored a major victory by winning unanimous support for his motion to address lengthy wait times for MRI services in Niagara. He continues to advocate for healthcare issues, is a major proponent for the building of the New Niagara Falls Hospital, and has tabled legislation for universal coverage for PSA testing and the creation of a direct caregiver benefit payment in Ontario. ==Electoral record==