Brantford—Brant

Brantford—Brant is a mixed urban-rural riding centred on the city of Brantford along the Grand River in southwestern Ontario, also encompassing portions of Brant County. The seat was held by Progressive Conservative Will Bouma, who won it in 2018, flipping it from the NDP. The riding has historically been competitive between the Conservatives and NDP, reflecting its mix of small-city and rural communities. Heading into 2022, the PC government’s record on healthcare, housing, and the opioid crisis was under scrutiny from a strong NDP challenge.

Brantford’s economy is anchored by manufacturing, logistics, and a growing post-secondary sector including Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus and Conestoga College. The city had experienced growth as a more affordable alternative to the Greater Toronto Area, drawing new residents along the Highway 403 corridor.

Candidates

Will Bouma (Progressive Conservative) — Bouma is a Doctor of Optometry who practises in the village of St. George. He graduated from the University of Waterloo and completed his optometry training in the United States. Before entering provincial politics, he served as a Brant County councillor beginning in 2014, sat on the Brant County Board of Health, and volunteered with the local fire department since 2008.

Harvey Bischof (NDP) — Bischof spent decades working in education, including as a teacher and as president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF). A resident of Brantford—Brant for more than a decade, he focused his campaign on healthcare, long-term care, housing affordability, and the opioid crisis.

Ruby Toor (Liberal) — Toor is a health and elder care advocate who immigrated to Canada in the 1970s and has lived in the Brantford—Brant community for nearly thirty years. She served as executive director of a retirement home in the community and as president of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons Chapter 17.

Karleigh Csordas (Green Party) — Csordas was born and raised in Brantford and Paris. She served as co-chair of the Environmental and Sustainability Policy Advisory Committee and chaired the Green Team Brantford, focusing on waste reduction and community cleanup efforts.

Minor candidates included Tad Brudzinski (New Blue Party), Allan Wilson (Ontario Party), Leslie Bory (Canadian Constitution Party), Rob Ferguson (Libertarian), and John Turmel (Independent).

Local Issues

The opioid crisis was a defining issue in Brantford—Brant. The city experienced opioid-related fatality and emergency department visit rates well above the provincial average, making it one of the hardest-hit communities in Ontario. The Brant Community Healthcare System and partner organizations had established same-day addictions care for people presenting to the emergency department, but demand continued to outpace resources. The crisis intersected with homelessness and housing affordability, as the city worked to coordinate services for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Healthcare access was a broader concern. The Brant Community Healthcare System faced staffing pressures common across Ontario, and the PC government’s Bill 124 — which capped public-sector wage increases at one percent annually — was blamed by healthcare unions and opposition parties for driving nurses and other health workers out of the profession. The NDP promised to repeal the bill and increase investment in healthcare staffing.

Housing affordability also featured in the campaign. Brantford had seen significant home price increases as buyers priced out of the Greater Toronto Area moved down the Highway 403 corridor, putting pressure on a market that had traditionally been more affordable. All major candidates acknowledged housing as a top concern, though they differed on solutions ranging from increasing supply through development to strengthening renter protections.