Will Bouma, current Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Brant-Brantford is aiming for re-election when residents head to the polls on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Seven candidates will oppose Bouma on election night. Check out profiles on the candidates running in the 2025 Provincial Election.
Ron Fox, Ontario Liberal Party
How long have you been with the party?
I have been a member of the Ontario Liberal Party since 2023.
Why did you choose to run in this election?
I have always been interested in politics, but I was unable to run previously as my Franchise agreement with Tim Hortons wouldn’t allow me to.
What concerns have you heard at the door?
People are tired of watching their government waste their tax dollars. They hear about scandal after scandal; the two-billion dollar spa in downtown Toronto, the one-billion dollars to get beer into the corner store a year early, and the three-billion dollars to try and buy this election. They want a government that will be responsible with their tax dollars, and spend on the priorities that matter to them.
In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing Brantford-Brant residents?
Health Care—we hear at almost every door. Everyone seems to know someone who needs a family doctor, and the Ontario Liberal plan to ensure every person in Ontario has a family doctor within the next four years has been well received.
Everyone knows we need a new hospital in Brantford Brant, and in conversations with Bonnie she mentioned that she understands how hard it can be for a municipality to come up with their 10% of the funding- and maybe we can do something to lower the municipalities commitment. Being a former mayor, she recognizes that the Provincial government must do better, and when she is Premier she will.
Affordability. Everyone is affected by higher prices, and we need to find a way to help. That’s why the Ontario Liberals will lower the personal income tax rate for middle class Ontario families by reducing the tax rate on taxable income between $51,446-$75,000 by 22 percent.
This will benefit almost half of all taxpayers in Ontario. For the average household this change will result in a tax savings of about $1150 annually.
We will also remove the Provincial component of HST on hydro and heating bills- which the average family pays $2600 on energy bills annually.
This will save 5 million households an average of around $200 annually.
If elected, what would be your top priority and why?
Properly funding our public services. Our health care and education systems are both in crisis. That’s what happens when they are neglected for 7 years by a Conservative government. We need to get the basics right. Get every person in Ontario the health care they deserve, because without our health what have we got. We also need to make sure our young people are learning in a class that is an appropriate size, and that the required supports are available.
How would you describe yourself to residents?
I’ve lived in Brantford for over 30 years, and been happily married to my wife for over 19 years. We have chosen to raise our family in Brantford, as we love this community. I am a former business owner. I owned and operated two Tim Hortons locations for more than two decades. Fiscal responsibility was a big part of my day to day life. Watching Doug Ford waste our tax dollars on scandal ridden projects, I had to put my hand up to say I would do something. We need to fix how things are done. I will ensure the voice of the residents of Brantford Brant is heard in Queens Park, so that Brantford Brant is represented the way we should be.
Harvey Bischof, Ontario New Democratic Party
How long have you been with the party?
I’ve been a party member since 2021 and was the Ontario NDP candidate in Brantford-Brant in 2022. Prior to that, as President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, I maintained some degree of party neutrality as I had to attempt to work with all parties.
Why did you choose to run in this election?
After seven years of the Doug Ford government, life has only gotten harder for people in Brantford-Brant. Our healthcare system is in trouble, housing is increasingly unaffordable, and the cost of everyday life is rising to unmanageable levels. At the same time, our children are struggling to learn in decaying schools, with crowded classrooms, lacking the supports they need to succeed.
Brantford-Brant’s citizens deserve so much better and can get it with an Ontario NDP government that’s on their side.
I spent a career fighting successfully for the people I represented. I want to do that now for the people of this riding.
What concerns have you heard at the door?
I frequently hear about the need for better healthcare in the riding, including building a new hospital, providing better service in the county, and making sure we have enough healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. I’ve heard stories of people waiting hours and hours in the emergency department and finally leaving before being treated because the wait was too long. I’ve talked to many people who are travelling back to Burlington, Brampton, and elsewhere just to see a family doctor because they can’t find one here. And people are concerned that the current government has the wrong priorities. Spending billions of public dollars on a private luxury spa, refusing to do anything about the housing crisis because Ford only wants housing that creates profits for his developer buddies, and wasting almost $200 million on a cynical mid-winter election have people complaining that the only job that Doug Ford’s MPPs are interested in are their own.
In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing Brantford-Brant residents?
People in the riding are very concerned about the lack of access to appropriate healthcare. We desperately need a new hospital. We also need to hire many more family doctors and to hire and retain nurses and other healthcare professionals for people to get the care they deserve.
Housing affordability is a massive issue that has left people squeezed, with some squeezed out of housing entirely.
The threat of tariffs has many people in Brantford-Brant anxious, especially as this riding is particularly vulnerable to the imposition of tariffs by the U.S.
If elected, what would be your top priority and why?
We must move quickly to address the affordability crisis that has only grown over the seven years of the Ford government. A grocery rebate to support families struggling with increasing costs and the implementation of real rent controls will go a considerable way toward relieving everyday working people of the relentless cost squeeze they’re currently feeling.
If tariffs are imposed, the Ontario NDP has a plan to move quickly to help businesses secure supply lines and find new customers. We will ramp up infrastructure spending to keep Ontarians employed while building projects that will benefit the province. And we will work with the federal government to provide families with financial support while we work through the immediate economic shock of tariffs.
How would you describe yourself to residents?
My wife and I have been living and raising our family in Brantford for over 15 years. I had a 31-year career in education as a classroom teacher and as a representative of education workers, championing their working conditions and students’ learning conditions. I am an experienced and effective advocate who knows how to advance the interests of my constituents.
When not involved in electoral politics, my wife and I have fostered some 140 cats and kittens for Hearts to Homes Feline Rescue & Sanctuary as well as puppies for the SPCA — a few have become permanent companions. I also volunteer as Ontario Director for ResearchED Canada, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting evidence-informed teaching practices.
Karleigh Csordas, Green Party of Ontario
How long have you been with the party?
I have been a supporter of the Green Party of Ontario for several years, but my deeper involvement began when I recognized the urgent need for real leadership and community-driven solutions in Brantford-Brant. This is my second provincial election running as the Green Party candidate, and I remain committed to bringing fresh ideas, bold action, and strong advocacy to the issues that matter most—affordable housing, small business support, healthcare access, and sustainability.
The Green Party’s values of putting people before profits, strengthening communities, and protecting our future align closely with my own. That’s why I’m proud to be running again, standing up for the people of Brantford-Brant, and working towards a fairer, greener, and more affordable Ontario.
Why did you choose to run in this election?
There are several reasons why I chose to run in this election, especially as the Green Party candidate.
First and foremost, the Green Party has been leading the way on innovative policies that put people first. It’s been encouraging to see both the NDP and Liberals follow our lead—from doubling ODSP and OW rates to adopting our long-standing plan to allow fourplexes and low-rise walk-up apartments along public transit corridors. The Greens have been setting the standard on housing, affordability, and social support policies, and I’m proud to be part of the team that pushes for real solutions that work.
But good policies mean nothing without strong leadership. We don’t just need photo-ops and empty promises—we need an MPP who shows up, listens, and takes action. Brantford-Brant deserves a representative who will fight for our community.
Accountability matters. Ignoring public forums, skipping debates, and refusing to engage with the people you’re elected to serve is distasteful and not what democracy looks like. Leadership isn’t about hiding—it’s about being present, listening to concerns, and working for real change.
I’m running because we deserve better. Brantford-Brant needs a leader who is accessible, accountable, and ready to fight for the people of this community. That’s exactly what I intend to do.
What concerns have you heard at the door?
Despite the winter weather, I’ve had many meaningful conversations with the people of Brantford and Brant County.
People are struggling with the lack of affordable housing, the dysfunctionality of the Landlord-Tenant Board, hallway medicine, the shortage of family doctors, and the endless delays in getting a hospital built. There’s growing concern over Brantford’s sudden push for an amalgamation that no one asked for, the failure of autism service waitlists, the long wait for assisted living spaces, and the challenge of finding gainful employment.
There’s also deep frustration about affordability, homelessness and encampments, the impact of U.S. tariffs and a trade war, rising crime and drug addiction. The same issues keep coming up, and people want real action—now.
The common thread in all these concerns is that people feel ignored, underappreciated, and abandoned by those in power. They are tired of empty announcements with no results. They can’t get in touch with their MPP and feel that their voices don’t matter.
People in Brantford-Brant want a representative who listens, shows up, and works for them—not just for political insiders. They’re exhausted from voting against something—they want someone to vote for. That’s exactly why I’m running.
In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing Brantford-Brant residents?
I will share with you the top three issues that are facing Brantford-Brant:
1. Housing: We Need It, We Need It to Be Affordable, and We Need It Now
Brantford-Brant is facing a housing crisis, and we can’t afford to keep waiting. The Green Party is the only party offering a comprehensive housing strategy that works for everyone. Partnering with non-profit, co-op, and market-rate providers to build affordable homes without paving over our farmland.
- We were the first party to call for ending punitive land transfer taxes for first-time homebuyers.
- We’ve long advocated for a return to publicly-funded, affordable retirement communities for seniors.
- Before this election was called, our Deputy Leader Aislinn Clancy introduced a bill to reinstate rent control protections—and we will fight to make sure that happens.
We need a variety of housing solutions to truly address this crisis, and the Green Party has the policies to fix it.
2. Healthcare: It’s Time to Stop the Neglect
Brantford-Brant deserves a healthcare system that works. The Conservatives promised to end Hallway Medicine in 2018, and yet it has only gotten worse. We need to stop fighting frontline healthcare workers in court over fair wages and start investing in the hospitals, doctors, and nurses our community needs.
- Instead of wasting 30% more on private, for-profit clinics, we need to reinvest in public healthcare that benefits everyone.
- We must actively recruit family doctors and give them the support they need to set up long-term practices in our community.
- Mr. Bouma voted to spend nearly $2 billion to bring beer to corner stores a year early—imagine what that money could have done for our hospitals.
Brantford-Brant can’t afford more delays and underfunding. It’s time for leadership that prioritizes healthcare over political gimmicks.
3. Protecting Our Communities and the Environment
The health of our communities is directly tied to the health of our environment. The Green Party will:
- Expand the Greenbelt to include our waterways and create a designated Blue Belt to protect our water sources.
- Restore funding and authority to Conservation Authorities, ensuring local experts can protect our natural resources.
- Stop reckless urban sprawl and unnecessary projects like Highway 413, which threatens precious farmland and ecosystems.
Brantford-Brant deserves leadership that puts people and the environment before corporate interests. The Green Party is ready to take real action to protect our land, water, and communities for future generations.
If elected, what would be your top priority and why?
A lot of work needs to be done to get Brantford and Brant County on a better path, but my top priority is simple: being an accessible, accountable, and engaged MPP. This is how we can start to address the root issues that need to be solved.
That means listening to community members, making myself available, and actually showing up – something that has been missing from our current representation. People deserve leadership that works for them, not for party insiders or corporate donors.
The Green Party and Mike Schreiner are not my bosses—the people of Brantford and Brant County are. Every single person in this riding, whether they voted for me or not, deserves a representative who will stand up for them, fight for real solutions, and put our community first. That’s exactly what I intend to do.
How would you describe yourself to residents?
I’d describe myself as a community-first leader who listens, shows up, and takes action. I’m someone who genuinely cares about Brantford-Brant and wants to see it thrive.
I’ve spent years working with small businesses, volunteering in community initiatives, and advocating for sustainability and affordability. Whether it’s through my work in customer success, small business, or local environmental projects, I’ve always been about bringing people together to solve problems.
At the end of the day, I’m just someone who believes leadership means being present, accountable, and willing to fight for real change. That’s exactly why I’m running—to be a voice for the people in our community, not just for party politics.
Will Bouma, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
How long have you been with the party?
I have been a conservative all of my life and have been very active for about ten years.
Why did you choose to run in this election?
I’m running in this election to help “Protect Ontario”. But it is more than that. While we’ve made great progress in all areas, there is still much to be done.
What concerns have you heard at the door?
The biggest single concern I’ve heard at the door is the uncertainty over Donald Trump and his tariff threats. Along with appreciation for the Premier’s leadership.
In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing Brantford-Brant residents?
See above. Over 80% of everything we make here goes to the US. After that, the need for a new hospital.
If elected, what would be your top priority and why?
My first priority will be to protect our community from tariff threats. After that, it’s back to work on the Hospital and getting our new schools built.
How would you describe yourself to residents?
I always wanted to be a small town eye doctor. After opening our clinic, I have fallen more in love with our community. The opportunities to serve have come naturally. The fire service, the Brant Waterways Foundation, County Council and now Provincial service. There’s no more gratifying experience then to connect great people in our community with each other and see great solutions happen. I continue to stand by my first two promises. 1) Leave things better than I found them and 2) Treat people the way I’d like to be treated.
