Ontario Votes 2025: Flamborough-Glanbrook

The Progressive Conservatives have dominated the mostly rural riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook since it was created in 2017. 

PC incumbent candidate Donna Skelly defeated the NDP candidate by over 10,000 votes last election. This election will be Skelly's third time running.

She was the only PC candidate in the Hamilton area who participated in the televised Cable 14 debate last week. In response to a question from CBC Hamilton, Skelly said it has nothing to do with the party whether or not candidates take part. 

"I'm comfortable in this format, I grew up in television," said the former journalist. "I felt I wanted to be here and I'm here." 

The other party candidates criticised other PC candidates for not doing the same. 

"And no other PC felt the need?" responded NDP candidate Lilly Noble. "They're applying for a job, but didn't show up for the interview? It's very disrespectful." 

• Read all of CBC Hamilton's coverage of the Ontario election here. 

Almost 126,000 people live in the riding that encompasses Mount Hope, Binbrook, Upper Stoney Creek and Waterdown, among other communities. 

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 for Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP is Kristen Halfpenny for the New Blue Party.

Joshua Bell, Liberal

Joshua Bell, 21, has sat on the City of Hamilton's Youth Steering Committee, and committees for other organizations. 

He said he's running for MPP to stop the "harm" the PC government is doing to communities like Flamborough-Glanbrook.

"We need a government and leader in our community who will do the hard work to ensure that people have access to a family doctor, that houses and affordable housing units get built, that rent is brought down, that the Greenbelt is protected, and so much more," Bell said. 

Janet Errygers, Green

A project manager at a pharmaceutical company, Janet Errygers, 33, has run for the Green Party in the last couple provincial elections. 

"I am troubled by the trajectory we are on as a province and country," she said. "I feel that many of our elected officials do not maintain an appropriate level of professionalism or commitment to solving the issues we face today."

If elected, Errygers said she will focus on stopping urban sprawl, dealing the with the smelly landfill in Stoney Creek and protecting the Greenbelt. 

Lilly Noble, NDP

A 60-year-old community advocate, Noble has focused on stopping urban sprawl and protecting farmland. 

"As a community advocate, I have worked with residents to help them find solutions to neighbourhood problems by working with municipal and provincial politicians," Noble said. "I would be pleased to serve the residents of Flamborough-Glanbrook.

The riding is large, said Noble, and has a varied needs. Glanbrook, for example, has a shortage of family doctors while the Stoney Creek landfill continues to be "horribly smelly" for residents. Schools are also "understaffed and underfunded," Noble said. 

Donna Skelly, PC

Skelly did not fill out CBC Hamilton's survey. 

Her campaign website says she went into politics after a 30-year career in broadcast journalism. 

The incumbent candidate is a "powerful voice for the interests of business and taxpayers," the website says.

At the debate, Skelly defended her track record and voiced concern about the impacts of a trade war with the U.S. 

"I believe this is one of the most important elections in our lifetime," she said. "This country, this province, this city is under attack by onerous unnecessary tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump." 

Also running

• Halfpenny, New Blue Party: During the debate, Halfpenny submitted a pre-recorded video where she says she's focused on accommodating growth for farmers, ending the use of wind turbines and hiring more health-care staff.