Haldimand—Norfolk

Haldimand—Norfolk had been a Progressive Conservative stronghold for decades, held since 1995 by Toby Barrett, who announced his retirement in April 2022 after 27 years as MPP. The riding encompasses the rural communities of Haldimand County and Norfolk County in southern Ontario, including Simcoe, Cayuga, Caledonia, Port Dover, and Delhi. The local economy is heavily dependent on agriculture — the region sits at the heart of Ontario's former tobacco belt — and manufacturing. The 2022 race was upended when the provincial PC party bypassed local nomination processes and directly appointed Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt as its candidate, prompting Barrett's former executive assistant, Bobbi Ann Brady, to run as an independent with Barrett's endorsement.

Candidates

Bobbi Ann Brady (Independent) — Brady had worked as executive assistant to outgoing MPP Toby Barrett and served as a well-known figure in the local riding association. When the PC party centrally appointed its candidate without consulting the local association, Brady chose to run as an independent. Barrett publicly endorsed her campaign and participated in her canvassing efforts.

Ken Hewitt (Progressive Conservative) — Hewitt served as Mayor of Haldimand County for three terms. Before entering municipal politics, he spent over 30 years in the financial services industry providing business and financial planning advice. His appointment as the PC candidate by the party's central office, rather than through a local nomination contest, generated significant controversy within the riding.

Sarah Lowe (NDP) — A Caledonia resident and mother of three, Lowe worked as a server for more than 20 years while completing her BA and MA in Labour Studies at McMaster University. She had also served for six years as a constituency assistant to NDP leader Andrea Horwath.

Aziz Chouhdery (Liberal) — An engineer with over 25 years of experience in design and project management, Chouhdery was based in Mississauga.

Minor candidates included Sheldon Simpson (Ontario Party), Erik Coverdale (Green Party), Nate Hawkins (New Blue Party), Thecla Ross (Freedom Party), and George McMorrow (Independent).

Local Issues

The most contentious local issue was a proposed large-scale housing development on the Nanticoke industrial lands. Developer Empire Communities put forward a plan to build approximately 15,000 homes and create a planned community of up to 40,000 residents in the hamlet of Nanticoke. The proposal divided the riding sharply. Ken Hewitt, as Haldimand County mayor, had supported the development, while Bobbi Ann Brady and outgoing MPP Toby Barrett opposed it, arguing it would overwhelm rural infrastructure and alter the character of the community. Barrett cited his opposition to the Nanticoke project as one reason for tensions with the party leadership.

The manner in which the PC party selected its candidate became an issue unto itself. Local Conservatives expressed frustration that the party had bypassed the local riding association and directly installed Hewitt as its candidate. Brady framed her independent candidacy as a defence of local democratic representation against top-down party control, and Barrett's public support for her campaign reinforced the narrative of a grassroots rebellion.

Agricultural concerns also shaped the campaign. Farmers in Haldimand and Norfolk counties faced rising input costs and ongoing challenges related to the transition away from tobacco farming. Access to rural broadband and reliable cell service remained persistent infrastructure gaps, while health care access in the region's smaller communities continued to be a concern for an aging population.