Ontario Votes 2025: Burlington
The riding has leaned towards the PCs historically
- Read all of CBC Hamilton's coverage of the Ontario election here.
With a population of around 187,000, the Burlington riding encompasses most of the city, except for parts of its north end east of the Queen Elizabeth Way and Upper Middle Road and north of Walkers Line and Guelph Line.
The area is highly dependent on the surrounding manufacturing industry, as many in Burlington commute to Toronto or Hamilton for work.
The riding has historically leaned toward the Progressive Conservatives, but in 2014, Ontario Liberal Party candidate Eleanor McMahon was elected for the role, giving Burlington its first Liberal MPP in 71 years.
The Liberals' takeover was short-lived, however, as the PCs reclaimed the seat in 2018 with Jane McKenna taking it back.
The sitting MPP is Natalie Pierre, who won the election for the PCs in 2022 with 42.5 per cent of the vote, and is running again.
The major party candidates running against her are Megan Beauchemin with the NDP, Andrea Grebenc with the Liberals and Kyle Hutton with the Green Party.
CBC Hamilton sent a survey to major party candidates, or their party representatives. Their responses, edited for length and clarity, are reflected below.
Also running in Burlington are James "Chilli" Chillington with the New Blue Party, and David Crombie with the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party.
Megan Beauchemin, NDP
Beauchemin, 27, is a chemical engineer and University of Waterloo graduate working in the automotive industry and a long-time Burlington resident.
"I think we need more young people, more women, and more diversity of experiences in politics. I bring all of this to the table," she said. "Along with a genuine belief that the NDP's policies are what Ontario needs now."
Beauchemin said she has a "clear understanding" of many challenges facing the riding and is "committed to listening" to her community. She said the top three of those issues are healthcare, education and housing.
Andrea Grebenc, Liberal
Grebenc is a former Halton District School Board Trustee for Wards 3 & 6 in Burlington and led the board for four years in 2018.
She has been a Burlington resident for over 40 years, according to her party profile, and told CBC she is an IT business owner since 1999 and was a longtime instructor at Mcmaster University.
She says her top priorities are health care, saying Joseph Brant Hospital "is underfunded," affordability and education.
"As a school board trustee and chair of the Halton District School Board, my direct cell phone number was publicly available—and people used it," she said. "No one is more passionate than a parent advocating for their child. I fought against increasing class sizes, the mandatory four online courses for graduation, and the harmful proposed changes to the Ontario Autism Program. Our voices were heard, and ministry direction changed."
Kyle Hutton, Green
Hutton, 34, is a data organizer for an environmental non-profit and a resident of Burlington for over 20 years, he said.
He said cost of living, healthcare access, and housing are three of the most prevalent issues he's heard from people and said his party has plans for each of those that include basic income, hiring new doctors, and building new homes within urban boundaries.
"I'm running so Ontario has a chance to vote for a new kind of government, one that puts people over profit, and get us back on track for success," he said.
Natalie Pierre, PC
Pierre did not answer CBC Hamilton's survey before publication. She has been in office since 2022 and led hiring and recruitment at Sheridan College before that.
She has largely focused on mental health and is currently parliamentary assistant to the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and to the Minister of Sport. Pierre and the PCs also promised funding for a new mental health unit at the Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington in November.
Also running
- James "Chilli" Chillington, New Blue Party: In the IT and Cybersecurity field and an actor and comedian, according to his IMDB page.
- David Crombie, None of the Above Direct Democracy Party: There's no information available online about Crombie.
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