Burlington

Burlington is a suburban city on the western shore of Lake Ontario within Halton Region, with a population of approximately 186,000 as of the 2021 census. The seat was held by Progressive Conservative Jane McKenna, who served as Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues in the Ford cabinet. McKenna announced she would not seek re-election in 2022, choosing instead to run for Halton Regional Chair in the October municipal elections. Her departure opened the seat, and the PC Party nominated Natalie Pierre, a human resources and finance professional, as her successor. Burlington had historically leaned Liberal provincially before the PC wave of 2018, making it a riding to watch.

Candidates

Natalie Pierre (Progressive Conservative) — Pierre is a human resources and finance professional who spent 13 years leading hiring and recruitment at Sheridan College. She and her husband Paul had lived in Burlington for over 30 years. Her career included mentoring and coaching high school, college, and university students entering the workforce.

Mariam Manaa (Liberal) — Manaa is a community advocate who was 26 years old at the time of her nomination. She had previously worked for Burlington MP Karina Gould in her constituency office, gaining experience in policy advisory and stakeholder relations. She served on the board of the Lions McInnes House for the Blind and Deaf and the Halton Mosque.

Andrew Drummond (NDP) — Drummond is a telecommunications worker who had lived in Burlington for 17 years. He previously ran as the NDP candidate in Burlington in 2018, increasing the party’s vote share by 14 percentage points in that election.

Kyle Hutton (Green Party) ran as the Green candidate. Minor candidates included Allison Mckenzie (New Blue Party) and Sebastian Aldea (Ontario Party).

Local Issues

Housing development and growth management were central to the Burlington campaign. Residents were engaged in debates over intensification versus preservation of neighbourhood character, with concerns about how rapidly the city could absorb growth while maintaining quality of life and adequate infrastructure. The balance between adding new housing supply and protecting the character of established neighbourhoods was a recurring theme.

Transit and transportation were ongoing concerns. Burlington residents commuting to Toronto or Hamilton relied on GO Transit, and the expansion of regional transit connections was a frequently raised topic. The PC government’s broader transit investment plans, including potential LRT connections in the Hamilton-Burlington corridor, were discussed during the campaign. Environmental groups in Burlington also pressed candidates on climate action and protection of green spaces, including concerns about the Greenbelt and conservation authority lands.

Healthcare, while not as acute as in Brampton, was still a significant issue. Joseph Brant Hospital serves Burlington and surrounding communities, and staffing pressures affected wait times and service delivery. The debate over Bill 124’s impact on healthcare worker retention featured in local discussions, with the NDP and Liberals calling for its repeal.