HALDIMAND—With the provincial election looming on February 27, current Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady is banking on her years of local experience and her freedom as an independent to earn her a second term in office.
“I bring to the table a common sense, practical approach. I do not believe there is a monopoly on a good idea,” she shared.
Brady worked under former MPP Toby Barrett for 23 years before taking the seat two years ago. She characterized her initial campaign as “standing up for democracy” following the appointment of former PC candidate Ken Hewitt by Doug Ford.
“I’m doing that again in 2025. I believe the majority of people in Haldimand Norfolk have enjoyed an independent voice at Queen’s Park,” she said.
Some issues Brady plans to continue addressing if re-elected include the replacement of the Argyle St. Bridge and installation of traffic lights at Highway 6 and Haldibrook Road. Other top issues include:
Affordability
Brady said she has been “petitioning relentlessly” for the government to find ways to reduce the cost of living: “Last January I launched a petition for the government to drop the carbon tax from gas and electricity used for heating.”
She also voted in favour of MPP Stephanie Bowman’s bill last November aimed at lowering taxes for small businesses.
“A tax cut is a very Conservative idea, and yet the government voted it down,” she said.
Lastly, Brady added, “The cost of food is completely out of whack. Doug Ford has to reign in some of his friends in the grocery store industry.”
Housing
Brady urged the government to focus on truly affordable housing, instead of allowing endless “$700-800,000 homes when people can’t afford them…. We need to create a market where young couples can have a house for $250,000.”
Small town vs development
Brady said increasing development is a top issue for constituents.
“We’ve seen significant growth in the Caledonia area, and we’ve seen the social pressures it puts on that community, on schools. We’ve seen an uptick in crime, things that we don’t normally see,” she said.
She would continue to push for “responsible development” that ensures all infrastructure is in place before new residents. “I’m anti-irresponsible development,” she said, citing the new school coming to Caledonia as an example of poor government foresight. “By the time that school opens, there is likely going to be 20 portables on the property.”
On Empire Communities’ possible Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) request for a Nanticoke development, Brady would like to see those plans scrapped entirely in favour of a proposed energy project in the area.
“We cannot bring people and energy; it has to be one or the other. It makes sense that we bring an energy project so we can have more good paying jobs,” said Brady.
Health and long-term care
Brady believes Ontario’s many nurse practitioners could be a stop-gap solution to Ontario’s doctor crisis.
“Nurse practitioners are the way to fill that gap until we get a full complement of doctors in place,” she said, asserting the current government “will not recognize the contribution nurse practitioners make in the medical community.”
She continued, “Give them the ability to bill OHIP, create more practitioner-led clinics, that will ease the burden on our doctors and get people quick, more effective access to healthcare.”
As for long-term care, Brady said it is paramount to get shovels in the ground for increased beds at facilities like Dunnville’s Edgewater Gardens, which recently placed a planned 64-bed expansion on hold due to a shortfall of government funding.
Brady concluded, “They’ve created an environment where inflation has largely caused this problem. The government needs to lend a hand in times of need and this is a time of need.”
Tariffs and a new mandate
While Brady said it’s paramount to stand up against Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs, she believes Ford has ulterior motives behind calling this election: “You have a super majority government and you have not gone to the people on issues like the Greenbelt or the Ontario Science Centre, and all of a sudden you need a clear mandate to fight Donald Trump?” asked Brady.
She believes this election is meant to extend Ford’s power ahead of the RCMP report on the Greenbelt issue, and potentially to avoid any federal election results impacting Ford’s popularity.
“This is absolute greed at the party level. It’s all about retaining power,” she said. “Doug Ford is the problem. He is dismantling this province through corporate greed.”
“I don’t have to tow a party line. I go there (to Queen’s Park) guided by the taxpayers of Halidmand-Norfolk,” Brady concluded. “You get very honest and genuine representation with Bobbi Ann Brady.”
The Haldimand Press will provide profiles on other candidates in upcoming editions.
