Huron--Bruce

Huron--Bruce is a sprawling rural riding along the eastern shore of Lake Huron in southwestern Ontario, stretching from Grand Bend in the south to Southampton in the north and inland to communities like Walkerton and Seaforth. Dominated by agriculture and the Bruce Power nuclear generating station, the riding is one of Ontario's most productive farming regions and a cornerstone of the province's energy supply. Conservative Ben Lobb won his sixth consecutive term in the 2025 election, extending a tenure that began in 2008.

Candidates

Ben Lobb (Conservative) * Born and raised in Clinton, Ontario, Lobb earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering politics, he worked in the finance department at D2L and at Wescast Industries in Wingham. First elected in 2008, he has served on the Veterans Affairs Committee, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee, and chaired the Standing Committee on Health. He was the Conservative Shadow Minister for Digital Government and a Special Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition on Blockchain Technologies and Cryptoassets. He focused his 2025 campaign on cost of living and trade issues affecting local farmers.

James Rice (Liberal) Rice serves as an Assistant Crown Attorney with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. A former crown ward, he has been involved with Bruce-Grey Child and Family Services and the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada. He was also connected to the Tiverton Agricultural Society and is a strong advocate for rural issues. He was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate for Huron--Bruce.

Melanie Burrett (NDP) Burrett is a high school library clerk and proud union member who has volunteered for the NDP for nearly twenty years. She has advocated for disability rights, seniors' issues, and positive social change in her community. Her campaign focused on the housing crisis and making life more affordable for working-class Canadians.

Gregory J McLean (Green Party) McLean has lived in Bruce County for most of his adult life and is a retired administrator who worked in both Bruce and Huron Counties. He also serves as a municipal councillor in Brockton. Running for the first time federally, his priorities included healthcare access, affordable housing, and protecting the local economy from American tariffs.

Justin L Smith (Independent) Smith ran as an independent candidate in Huron--Bruce.

About the Riding

Huron--Bruce is defined by its agricultural character and its role in Ontario's energy sector. The riding is home to approximately 6,700 farms cultivating around 1.3 million acres of farmland, with major commodities including cattle, dairy, hogs, soybeans, and poultry. About eleven percent of the workforce is employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting, giving the riding one of the highest concentrations of agricultural employment in the province.

The Bruce Power nuclear generating station near Kincardine is the world's largest operating nuclear facility and a dominant employer in the region. The riding also hosts the world's largest underground salt mine, a deep water port, and a growing cannabis industry. Along the Lake Huron shoreline, beach communities and provincial parks support a seasonal tourism economy.

In the 2025 campaign, U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and their potential impact on agricultural exports were a central concern. Housing affordability and healthcare access in rural communities also featured prominently in local debates. Lobb's deep roots in the riding and his focus on trade issues resonated with voters, who returned him to Ottawa for a historic sixth term.