Ontario Votes 2025: Brantford-Brant
CBC
The Brantford-Brant riding encompasses a large rural and urban region that the Progressive Conservatives have won in the last two provincial elections.
Over 140,000 people live in the riding, based on the 2021 census data.
The riding covers the City of Brantford and part of Brant County, which includes Paris, Burford, Oakland and well as Six Nations of the Grand River and New Credit Reserve.
PC candidate Will Bouma is the incumbent and he will run against NDP candidate Harvey Bischof for the second time. The two faced off in 2022, with Bouma beating Bischof by 7,455 votes. Karleigh Csordas represents the Greens while Ron Fox is the Liberal candidate.
CBC Hamilton sent a survey to major party candidates, or their party representatives. Their responses, edited for length and clarity, are reflected below.
Also running for MPP is Joshua Carron of the New Blue Party, Mike Clancy with the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party and James Carruthers for the Ontario Alliance.
Bischof, 61, spent decades working in education including as a teacher and president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation.
"The people of this riding deserve an MPP who is available, who will talk with them, and will raise their voices at Queen's Park," Bischof said. "Currently, that brand of representation is sadly lacking."
He said the riding needs a new hospital in Brantford, something the current government has made announcements about and supported planning for, but has not fully committed to.
Bouma, the incumbent candidate, did not respond to CBC Hamilton's survey.
His website says he was a city councillor in Brant County, elected in 2014, and a member of the board of health, Brant Waterways Foundation and a fire department volunteer.
Bouma said on his website, "I make you two promises: 1. Leave things better than I found them. 2. To treat others as I want to be treated."
Karleigh Csordas, 29, is a customer service manager and small business owner, who has previously worked in health care.
"The Green Party has been leading on the issues that matter most — affordable housing, healthcare, small business support, and protecting our environment — and we've seen other parties follow our lead," Csordas said. "But real change requires someone who will push for bold solutions, not just settle for the status quo."
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