Brant

Brant encompasses the City of Brantford and the surrounding County of Brant in southwestern Ontario, situated along the Grand River about 100 kilometres west of Toronto. The riding includes the city of Brantford, the town of Paris at the confluence of the Nith and Grand Rivers, and the rural townships of Brantford and South Dumfries. The Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, the most populous First Nations reserve in Canada, borders the riding to the south.

Candidates

Phil McColeman (Conservative) — A home builder by profession, McColeman operated construction and development companies in Brantford for over two decades before entering politics. He served as president of both the Brantford Home Builders' Association and the Ontario Home Builders' Association, giving him a prominent profile in the local business community. First elected in Brant in 2008, McColeman was the incumbent seeking a second term in 2011.

Marc Laferriere (NDP) — A professor of Justice Studies at Mohawk College in the School of Community and Urban Studies, Laferriere held a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Social Work from Lakehead University. He had worked as a clinical social worker at Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services and the Grand River Community Health Centre, and served as Practicum Coordinator for Wilfrid Laurier University's Bachelor of Social Work program. He was a recipient of the YMCA Peace Medal for his work in social work and community advocacy.

Lloyd St. Amand (Liberal) — A family and criminal law lawyer, St. Amand earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and his law degree from the University of Windsor. He moved to Brantford in 1979 and practised law at several local firms. Active in the community, he served on the St. Joseph's Hospital Board of Directors and was involved with Big Brothers of Brantford and Nova Vita Women's Services. First elected in Brant in 2004, succeeding Liberal MP Jane Stewart, St. Amand served two terms before being defeated in 2008. He sought to reclaim the seat in 2011.

Nora Fueten (Green Party), Leslie Bory (Independent), and Martin Sitko (Independent) also stood as candidates.

About the Riding

Brantford had a population of approximately 93,650 in the 2011 census, while the broader Brantford census metropolitan area, including the County of Brant, counted about 135,500 residents. The median age was 40.6 years, close to the Ontario average. The city's economy had undergone a significant transformation since the 1980s, when the closure of major manufacturers such as Massey-Ferguson, the Cockshutt Plow Company, and other heavy industrial employers devastated the local job market.

An economic revival began after the completion of the Highway 403 extension to Ancaster in 1997, which improved connections to Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area. By 2011, companies such as Procter & Gamble and Ferrero SpA had established operations in the city, and Brantford had attracted investment in advanced manufacturing and food processing. Laurier Brantford, a campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, and a satellite campus of Nipissing University brought post-secondary education and student life to the downtown core. The Grand River, a Canadian Heritage River, runs through the heart of the riding, and Paris was widely recognized as one of Ontario's most attractive small towns. Federal issues in 2011 included economic diversification, infrastructure renewal for a city still recovering from industrial decline, and matters related to the neighbouring Six Nations community.