With the federal election approaching on April 28, voters in Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North say the cost of living and U.S. tariff threats are their top concerns.
Liberal candidate Chuck Phillips says residents are looking for a government that can stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump and protect Canadian interests. Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Dan Muys believes affordability — particularly the rising costs of housing, groceries, and taxes — is foremost on voters’ minds.
NDP candidate Peter Werhun noted that voter priorities have shifted over the course of the campaign.
“At the start, everyone was talking about Trump and tariffs,” Werhun said. “But over the last couple of weeks, affordability, especially housing costs, has taken center stage.”
Werhun said an NDP government would replace the current Housing Accelerator Fund with a $16-billion national housing strategy. This would include a new Canadian Homes Transfer program to reward municipalities that fast-track housing development, especially near public transit, and a Communities First Fund to help provinces expand water, transit, and public services needed to support growth.
Muys, who represented the former Flamborough-Glanbrook riding after winning the 2021 election, said concerns about affordability are widespread in communities like Paris, St. George, and Glen Morris.
“People feel squeezed by taxes and the rising costs of housing and groceries,” Muys said. “Canada has the resources and the talent to thrive, but after 10 years under the Liberals, we’re falling behind. Voters are telling me it’s time for change.”
Phillips, on the other hand, emphasized the Liberal plan to strengthen Canada’s economy and shield it from external threats.
“We’re committed to building a stronger Canada through investments in trade schools and the agriculture sector,” Phillips said. “We’ll ensure affordable housing is available where people want to live, expand our global trade partnerships, and continue to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers in cooperation with the premiers.”
Other candidates running in Flamborough-Glanbrook-Brant North include Nikita Mahood for the People’s Party of Canada and Anita Payne for the Green Party.
The riding, which combines parts of Hamilton and Brant County, including St. George, has a population of 103,836, with 83,089 registered voters. It was formerly represented by Conservative David Sweet from 2015 to 2021.
