As election day approaches on April 28, candidates in Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations say affordability, the future of the local economy, and democratic reform are the top issues on voters’ minds.
Candidates from the four major political parties were asked to highlight the Number 1 concern raised during the campaign.
Conservative candidate Larry Brock said affordability is in crisis, with voters struggling under rising costs for essentials like groceries, gas, and rent.
“The number one thing I hear is how life under the Liberals has become unaffordable,” Brock said. “Taxes are up, and after a decade of Liberal policies, people are finding it harder to get by.”
Brock said a Conservative government would eliminate the carbon tax to lower costs, cut income taxes—saving workers $900 and families $1,800—and reduce government waste to fight inflation and high interest rates.
Meanwhile, Liberal candidate Joy O’Donnell said the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs has created anxiety about the local economy’s future.
“Voters are telling me they want a leader who can stand up for Canada and manage economic challenges effectively,” O’Donnell said, adding that Liberal leader Mark Carney’s experience gives voters confidence.
O’Donnell said a Liberal government would forge new trade partnerships, provide easier access to hardship supports for businesses, and improve Employment Insurance services. She also highlighted plans to cut taxes, protect retirement savings, and boost social support systems.
For Green Party candidate Karleigh Csordas, the issue of democratic reform tops the list.
“This is truly a historic election,” Csordas said. “But many Canadians feel forced to vote strategically rather than for the candidates or parties they truly support.”
She emphasized the need for an electoral system that allows voters to express their true preferences and have them reflected in Parliament.
NDP candidate Anne Gajerski-Cauley echoed concerns about affordability and economic uncertainty, but also stressed the NDP’s achievements despite a small caucus in Ottawa.
“People are looking for security,” Gajerski-Cauley said. “The NDP has delivered results like dental care and pharmacare. Imagine what we could achieve with national rent control and by tackling corporate landlords.”
The full list of candidates in Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations includes independents Leslie Bory, Mike Clancy, Clo Marie, and Nicholas Xenos of the People’s Party of Canada.
The riding, with a population of 121,511 based on 2021 census data, largely replaces the former Brantford-Brant riding after the 2022 electoral redistribution. The remainder of the County of Brant moved to the new Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North riding.
In the 2021 federal election, 66,096 ballots were cast in the former Brantford-Brant, with a voter turnout of 59 percent. The riding has been held by the Conservatives since 2015, previously represented by Phil McColeman and currently by Larry Brock. Historically, it was held by the Liberals from 1993 to 2008 and the NDP from 1971 to 1993.
