Burlington

The Burlington riding produced one of the closest contests in the 2025 Ontario election. Incumbent PC MPP Natalie Pierre had initially announced in October 2024 that she would not seek re-election, only to reverse her decision in December 2024 after receiving what she described as an outpouring of community support. Pierre, who served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and as Deputy Government Whip during the 2022–2025 term, faced a formidable challenge from Liberal candidate Andrea Grebenc, a former Halton District School Board trustee and board chair.

Burlington is a suburban city of approximately 186,000 on the western shore of Lake Ontario within Halton Region. Historically, the riding has swung between the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, making it a bellwether for broader provincial trends. The city’s mix of established residential neighbourhoods, growing intensification pressures, and a strong environmental constituency created a competitive political landscape.

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 have lived in Burlington for over 30 years. During the 2022–2025 term, she served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and as Deputy Government Whip.

Andrea Grebenc (Liberal) — Grebenc served two terms as a Halton District School Board trustee beginning in 2014 and was elected school board chair, serving from 2018 to 2021. She secured the Liberal nomination in December 2024 and ran on a platform emphasizing healthcare at Joseph Brant Hospital, housing affordability, and investment in public education.

Megan Beauchemin (NDP) — Beauchemin is a chemical engineering graduate of the University of Waterloo who works in the automotive sector. She previously served as Vice-President of Education for the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association and has received awards for her advocacy on mental health issues.

Minor candidates included Kyle Hutton (Green Party), James Chilli Chillingworth (New Blue Party), and David Crombie (None of the Above Direct Democracy Party).

Local Issues

Healthcare was a central issue in Burlington, though the situation differed from Brampton’s acute hospital crisis. Joseph Brant Hospital, which serves Burlington and surrounding communities, faced staffing pressures and growing demand. The PC government announced funding for a new mental health unit at the hospital in late 2024, addressing one of the facility’s identified needs. However, the Liberal and NDP candidates argued that broader investment was required to address wait times and ensure the hospital could keep pace with the city’s growth. The debate over healthcare privatization also featured locally, with questions about the role of private clinics in delivering publicly funded surgeries.

Housing and development were top-of-mind concerns. Burlington residents engaged in ongoing debates about intensification versus neighbourhood preservation, with the city balancing provincial directives to increase housing supply against community desire to maintain the character of established areas. The City of Burlington formally identified the abolition of the Ontario Land Tribunal as a priority, arguing the body added cost and delay to local planning decisions. The Greenbelt and the protection of Burlington’s agricultural land — the city is approximately half rural — remained important environmental issues.

Transit and transportation mattered to Burlington commuters. GO Transit service to Toronto and Hamilton was a lifeline for many residents, and questions about frequency, reliability, and fare integration shaped local expectations. The provincial government’s plan to widen the QEW between Burlington and St. Catharines was announced during the 2022–2025 term, drawing both support from drivers and criticism from those who favoured transit investment over highway expansion.