Election Day in Ontario is fast approaching, and if you're unsure who to cast your ballot for, here is the list of candidates running in the riding of Sarnia-Lambton.
SarniaNewsToday.ca reached out to all nine candidates running for the local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) seat.
Here are their responses.
Bob Bailey-Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (incumbent)
1. Tell us about yourself?
I've been privileged to serve as the MPP for Sarnia-Lambton since 2007. Before being elected as MPP I worked in industry in Sarnia-Lambton for more than 30 years, first at Polysar and then Nova Chemicals.
A lot has happened over the last 18 years, everything from saving the Sarnia Jail, fighting back against out-of-control electricity rates, building the Oversized Load Corridor, and securing funding for the Bluewater Health Withdrawal Management Facility. There have been so many things that I have been honoured to advocate for and support locally, but most importantly, my greatest successes have been the times I’ve been able to meet with and help my constituents with their issues.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
I'm proud of what our Ontario PC team has accomplished over the last 7 years and I look forward to continuing to build on the progress we have achieved to grow our economy, create new jobs, protect livelihoods, and keep us competitive, not just a week, or a month, but for years to come. Locally, we've seen many significant investments in our community. We’ve increased annual funding to
Bluewater Health by over $60M and invested in rural hospitals like CEE Hospital in Petrolia with critical system upgrades and an expansion of the emergency department. We invested in our education system by building schools, like Gregory A. Hogan Catholic Elementary School in Sarnia, and expanding schools in growing communities, like Errol Village School in Camlachie.
We’ve launched life-changing skills training programs to train workers for in-demand careers, like the Lambton College Stay and Learn Nursing Program, or the $260M Skills Development Program that supports upskilling for workers in manufacturing, construction, and technology. I want to keep that momentum going and do my part to ensure the Ontario PCs are given a strong mandate to do whatever it takes to respond to President Trump's tariffs to protect Sarnia-Lambton's families, workers, and businesses.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are of most importance to you?
Our Ontario PC team has made incredible investments to support building more affordable housing so that everyone in our community has a place to call home. We have made record investments in health care and education. We are also developing the framework for important future technologies, like hydrogen energy production, and carbon capture and sequestration, that will support thousands of local jobs, and we are expanding energy procurement to meet future demand. As your MPP, taking steps to grow our community, and economy, and ensure opportunity for all the residents of Sarnia-Lambton will continue to be my focus.
4. What would you and your party do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
The Ontario PCs are the only party that will stand up for our local industry. We were the only party at Queen's Park that took action to protect Line 5 and its continued operation. We were the only party at Queen's Park that challenged the federal Liberal Government's job-killing carbon tax. We are the only party with a leader and plan to respond to the tariffs from the US. We'll do whatever is necessary to protect people's livelihoods, including investing tens of billions of dollars to keep people working. We'll provide funding for impacted businesses to retool and attract new customers and meet payroll. We'll invest more in building infrastructure to create jobs and retain workers to find new opportunities.
5. What measures will your party implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across the province?
Our PC team knows our community is rapidly growing and we want to be ready to build affordable homes to welcome families not just now, but for years to come.
That is why we have redoubled our efforts to build even more homes faster by cutting red tape and streamlining approvals. We have introduced the new Provincial Planning Statement to provide municipalities with greater flexibility to build more housing and, through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, we are investing nearly $42 million to support upgrades to critical water infrastructure in St. Clair Township and the City of Sarnia, paving the way for the construction of up to 3,399 new homes. This investment builds on the $400,000 that the City of Sarnia received through the Building Faster Fund and is our latest step to support new homes for families in our community.
Through the Homelessness Prevention Program, we are supporting municipalities to deliver programs and support to address homelessness that best meet local needs. In Sarnia-Lambton, the Ontario PC government recently invested $ 2.9 million to expand local shelter capacity, support rent supplements, and create transitional housing for 34 individuals. I’m also extremely pleased that the Ontario PC government selected Sarnia-Lambton to invest over $ 6 million in funding to create the Lambton County Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub. The Hub will provide mental health and addiction support, including long-term housing for individuals dealing with addiction and at risk of homelessness.
We will continue to work in partnership with our municipal leaders and will move forward to build more homes and create more affordable housing options in our community.
6. In Sarnia there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023 alone, up 41 percent from the year before. What plans does your party have to keep repeat offenders behind bars?
Only the Ontario PCs have a plan to clean up our streets. We share the concerns that we’ve heard from families about dangerous criminals and repeat offenders being let back out on our streets and about the Trudeau government’s failure to strengthen bail laws.
That's why we are calling on the federal government to amend the Criminal Code and tighten bail conditions. We have taken steps at the provincial level, such as investing $29 million to reduce the backlog of criminal cases, but our ability to impose stiffer penalties and restrict bail for serious crimes and repeat offenders remains limited by the Trudeau government’s soft-on-crime approach. Enough is enough. We need meaningful bail reform now.
Nathan Colquhoun-Independent
1. Tell us about yourself?
I’m a long-time advocate for Sarnia-Lambton, a business owner, and a community organizer. I’ve spent my career building things that support people, from businesses to non-profits to local journalism. I believe in people-first policies that actually make a difference instead of just empty political promises. My platform is at www.nathancolquhoun.com.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
Because Sarnia-Lambton needs real representation, not just another party politician following orders from Toronto. Every election, we’re told that voting for a party is the only way to get things done, and every election, we get ignored. I’m running as an independent because I believe we deserve an MPP who fights for this community, not one who just votes the way their party tells them to.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are of most importance to you?
Jobs & Industry Stability – Trades and industrial jobs are the backbone of this region, but government decisions are being made without workers at the table. We need leadership that actually fights to keep these jobs secure.
Housing & Homelessness – The housing crisis isn’t just a big-city issue, Sarnia-Lambton is seeing more people struggle to afford a home, and our shelter system isn’t enough. We need policies that actually build affordable and non-market housing, not just incentives for developers.
Healthcare Access – Bluewater Health is under strain, wait times are too long, and privatization is creeping in. Instead of giving public healthcare dollars to for-profit clinics, we should be investing in community-based healthcare that keeps services affordable and accessible to everyone.
Regional Transit – Sarnia is completely disconnected from the rest of the province. If people can’t access work, healthcare, or education without a car, we’re limiting opportunities for everyone.
4. What would you do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
Keep industry accountable to workers, not just shareholders. Companies benefiting from provincial incentives should have to guarantee job stability, fair wages, and long-term investment in workers.
Work with unions and skilled trades to ensure their voices are at the center of policy. Industrial workers shouldn’t be left waiting for jobs while governments make deals behind closed doors.
Push for industry transition planning that actually includes Sarnia-Lambton. Instead of just offering tax breaks to large corporations, we need real funding for workforce retraining, local infrastructure, and investment in industries that keep wealth in this community.
5. What measures will you implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across the province?
Stop relying on developers to “solve” the housing crisis. We need co-op housing, rent-controlled units, and non-market options so affordability isn’t dictated by profit margins.
Make housing-first policies the standard. Shelters are a short-term fix. Getting people into stable housing with support services actually works.
Expand rental protections and make homeownership more accessible. Right now, housing is designed for speculation, not stability. If we want more people to own homes, we should weigh rental history in mortgage approvals and lower down payment barriers for first-time buyers.
6. In Sarnia there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023 alone, up 41 per cent from the year before. What plans do you have to keep repeat offenders behind bars?
It’s telling that the question is framed as “how do we keep people behind bars” instead of “how do we actually reduce crime?” This kind of framing is exactly why public discussions on crime keep going in circles: we focus on punishment instead of prevention, reaction instead of solutions.
If harsher sentences and more policing actually stopped crime, we wouldn’t be seeing these numbers go up. The fact that recidivism rates are rising tells us that our system isn’t rehabilitating anyone, it’s just cycling people through over and over again.
We need to be honest about what actually makes communities safer. Locking people up longer doesn’t stop crime, it just keeps prisons full. If we actually care about safety, we need to focus on stopping the cycle before it starts. That means investing in rehabilitation, mental health services, housing stability, and real economic opportunities.
The media plays a huge role in shaping public perception. When the focus is always on fear-based, tough-on-crime narratives instead of why people are actually reoffending, it’s no surprise that policies keep failing. The real question isn’t just how to “keep people behind bars” longer, it’s why we keep relying on a system that clearly isn’t working.
If we want a safer community, we should focus on keeping people housed, employed, and supported, because punishment alone has never solved anything.
Candace Young-NDP
1. Tell us about yourself?
I grew up in Sarnia, my mom is Anishinaabe from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and my dad is from Nova Scotia. They’re both retired teachers, so it’s no surprise that I became an educator as well. I’ve been a math professor since 2008, and I try to create a positive experience for students learning math because the education system doesn’t always have a positive impact on students. I learned about residential schools and their profoundly damaging legacy for the first time in an Indigenous Studies course in university. I asked my mom about it and she told me that my grandma was a residential school survivor. It was a real turning point in my life.
As I learned more about her experiences, I became passionate about social justice, and I wanted to be an active participant in truth and reconciliation. This put me on the path to become a leader in my union local advocating for the rights of workers and to become involved in meaningful action for truth and reconciliation, for example, as a member of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Working Group for the City of Sarnia.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
The people of Sarnia-Lambton deserve to have a strong voice at Queen’s Park and we urgently need a provincial government that’s on our side. I haven’t seen a party that advocates for the priorities of our community in the way that the Ontario NDP does. My family has experienced long wait times at the ER and long wait times for hospital beds to become available. My friends have limited access to childcare, which is affecting their ability to return to work. Ontario’s colleges and universities are the least funded in all of Canada and the majority of our faculty at Lambton College are precarious, living contract to contract. The Ontario NDP has policies that address these issues and that put people first. I want to show Sarnia-Lambton what’s possible when they have a provincial government that works with them and for them.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are of most importance to you?
We are in a housing crisis, and I know it’s an issue that’s important to many people in Sarnia-Lambton. We need practical solutions to lower housing costs, protect renters, and build affordable homes. We’re also in a healthcare crisis where around 10,000 people in Sarnia-Lambton don’t have a family doctor, wait times continue to increase, and healthcare workers need fair working conditions. Our education system has been chronically underfunded, but class sizes are getting bigger, and students and education workers aren’t getting the support they need. We need new leadership and new ideas so we can build a brighter future for Sarnia- Lambton.
4. What would you and your party do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
The petrochemical industry is so fundamental to our local economy—it touches every household in some way, whether directly or indirectly. I remember growing up having close friends who suddenly moved away to Red Deer Alberta or Texas because the refinery their parent worked at suddenly closed down local operations. These days I teach Lambton College students who are skilled tradespeople whose ability to find work in their field is seasonal at best and nonexistent at worst. At the Sarnia and District Labour Council table, I have heard how the out-of-work lists are long. Workers in Sarnia-Lambton need to know they can reliably feed their families. I am someone who will always stand up for working people. It's what I do as a union leader and it's what I'll stand for as your MPP. The Ontario NDP as a party is committed to defending jobs.
We'll work with unions and partner with employers to protect jobs, whether from the threat of tariffs or corporate whims. I will be a vocal advocate for Sarnia-Lambton's economy and will make sure local voices are at the tables where decisions are made.
5. What measures will your party implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across the province?
The affordable housing crisis is affecting people across generations and income levels. My own parents are feeling the housing crunch. They are in a situation where they are needing to downsize to a bungalow, but the options to move are few and the cost to move is unaffordable. With the pillaging of rent control by the current government, renting has become risky and increasingly expensive. People who are already socially vulnerable are now at higher risk of losing their homes or being unable to find suitable ones. I'm proud to be running as a New Democrat because we know that the solution to getting people out of tents is to provide more and better housing options. We need more homes for all income levels, and real rent control. The Ontario NDP's Homes Ontario plan would be a massive expansion of permanently affordable homes.
6. In Sarnia there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023 alone, up 41 per cent from the year before. What plans does your party have to keep repeat offenders behind bars?
It is absolutely important for public safety that repeat violent offenders are subject to a robust criminal justice system. However, we don’t currently have a system that is able to keep up with demand. In Sarnia-Lambton, we don't have enough local justices to hear cases so there is a big backlog. When cases aren't heard in time, they get dropped. The judicial system just isn't functioning properly here. Why do we have justices that need to travel from London and Chatham?
Ontario has an extensive network of social programs that exist to shape a healthy, thriving society—but from the courts to the welfare state to the education system, this infrastructure has been eroded under previous Liberal and Conservative governments. When there aren't enough judges to hear court cases, charges get dropped—including against serious offenders. An NDP government will properly resource our courts, our probation and parole officers, our mental and physical health systems, and our welfare system.
Keith Benn--New Blue Party of Ontario
1. Tell us about yourself?
I was born and raised in SW Ontario and currently live in the old family home, in Sarnia-Lambton. I am a Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo.) with a Doctorate in Earth Sciences from the Université de Montpellier, in France. I held a tenured academic role at the University of Ottawa for 17 years. Since 2008, I have worked in the Minerals Industry, on three continents, in Management and Executive roles that demanded intricate planning and high levels of financial accountability. I previously ran for the New Blue Party in 2022, in Sarnia-Lambton.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
I’ve long followed the political, economic and societal evolution of our province and I recognize that Ontario is headed in a dark direction. Mr. Ford recklessly continues to waste huge sums of money and accumulate unsustainable public debt, all while eroding our freedoms. Of course, the Liberal and NDP parties would take us down the same dark path but even more quickly. I have therefore decided to seek permission from the people of Sarnia-Lambton to spend some years in public service, representing them at Queen’s Park. My mission, and that of the New Blue Party is to establish a Common-Sense Conservative movement that listens to and serves the people of Ontario, and that leads to prosperity.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are of most importance to you?
The promotion and growth of our great industrial base that generates wealth and provides employment in Sarnia-Lambton.
The preservation of agricultural land and promotion of the local agri-food industry, which could include agri-food hubs where value-added processing of locally grown food would generate wealth and help communities to flourish. Increased availability of natural gas and highspeed internet in rural areas to serve agricultural operations and rural residents.
Installation of a new natural gas or nuclear powered electrical generating station on the site of the former Lambton Generating Station. It would provide reliable and affordable electrical energy for all of Sarnia-Lambton, including our industries.
4. What would you and your party do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
Our fantastic refining and petrochemical industries provide many products required for our modern, advanced society. I believe the imaginary “human-induced climate crisis” is being used by ideological zealots to limit further industrial development. The New Blue Party and I support the elimination of misguided, so-called “green” and “climate change” policies that are designed to hinder our industries hence threatening employment for many in our communities.
For the record, CO 2 is plant food and many, many eminent scientists recognize the small amount of CO 2 that humans add to the atmosphere has precious little effect on Earth’s climate although it does help to green the planet.
5. What measures will your party implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across the province?
First, regarding the unaffordability of housing, this issue arises largely because of a lack of job creation due to a floundering economy, preventing many people from finding employment and severely limiting their financial well-being. The New Blue Party would push to solve that problem in Ontario by reducing or eliminating a great deal of regulation and taxation, thus making our province a welcoming jurisdiction for entrepreneurs and industry in general.
Regarding homelessness, that issue is amplified by the drug addiction problem that is affecting many communities in Ontario. We need to help those affected to overcome their addiction. Upstream, we also need to educate our young people with the hard truth about what awaits them should they wander down the path of drug addiction. Furthermore, our Provincial government must enforce drug laws with vigour and impose serious penalties on those who produce and traffic illegal drugs.
6. In Sarnia there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023 alone, up 41 per cent from the year before. What plans does your party have to keep repeat offenders behind bars?
Following the election, New Blue MPPs will encourage the Ontario government to stop the current “catch and release” practice by rapidly decreasing the backlog in our court systems. We will also strongly encourage the government to address the hard drug crisis that drives a great deal of criminality and that puts significant financial strain on municipalities and police services.
Jacques Boudreau-Libertarian
1. Tell us about yourself
I am an actuary with 38 years of experience in the life insurance industry, with extensive knowledge of fiscal matters and the funding of financial security systems. I have been a libertarian for approximately 25 years because I treasure personal freedom.
I moved to Petrolia about a year ago. I am married, a proud father, and a grandfather to four wonderful grandsons.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
I am running because government overreach has become excessive. Bureaucracy is out of control, red tape is stifling economic growth, and individual freedoms are being eroded. These issues must be addressed, and I believe the Ontario Libertarian Party is the only party willing to take meaningful action. I want to restore individual liberty. History has shown that societies thrive when people are free.
Additionally, Ontario is facing a massive debt and unfunded liability crisis—problems that no other party seems willing to confront. These financial burdens must be tackled to ensure long-term prosperity.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are most important to you?
Having recently moved to the region, I won’t claim deep familiarity with every local issue. However, the fundamental principles of increasing personal freedom and reducing government interference benefit everyone, including the people of Sarnia-Lambton.
Reducing bureaucratic red tape and excessive regulations would encourage investment and economic growth, leading to greater opportunities and prosperity for residents.
4. What would you and your party do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
To strengthen industry and protect jobs in Chemical Valley, we must make Ontario a more attractive place for businesses to operate. This means reducing government size, cutting excessive red tape, and lowering taxes.
Many companies leave or choose not to expand here because of overwhelming bureaucratic hurdles and government intrusion. Chemical Valley has a strong comparative advantage in its sector, and if we reduce these burdens, companies will be more likely to stay, expand, and invest in the region.
5. What measures will your party implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across the province?
There is no quick fix to this crisis, as some contributing factors are outside provincial jurisdiction. One major issue is that the federal government has allowed immigration levels to exceed our housing capacity. When population growth outpaces home construction, housing prices inevitably rise. The province must urge the federal government to align immigration levels with our ability to build homes.
At the provincial level, restrictive zoning laws and delays in building permits—often imposed by municipalities—are driving up costs. The Ontario government should push municipalities to streamline approvals and adopt a more flexible approach to housing development.
6. In Sarnia, there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023 alone, up 41% from the year before. What plans does your party have to keep repeat offenders behind bars?
The issue of recidivism falls primarily under the Criminal Code, which is under federal jurisdiction. Unfortunately, this means Ontario has limited power to directly change sentencing laws.
However, we can and must make our position clear to the federal government: the current revolving-door justice system is unacceptable. Criminals who repeatedly offend should face real consequences. The province must actively pressure the federal government to reform its lenient policies and ensure that repeat offenders serve appropriate sentences.
Mark Lamore-Ontario Party
1. Tell us about yourself?
I am Mark Lamore, born in Sarnia in 1971. I have lived here almost my entire life. Married for 26 years in a row. I have four kids and 10 grandkids. I've worked in customer service for 30 years and am currently working toward my AZ ticket.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
I chose to run for the Ontario Party as it is the only party that is looking to make Ontario's interest it's top priority. The legacy parties only pass the buck and blame, thus nine candidates in a riding this size.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are of most importance to you?
The people tell me healthcare, education and housing, looking for waste, going thru the budgets and hold bureaucracy accountable and set up the province where people want to invest instead of flee would be a good start.
4. What would you do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
This ties in with my answer to #3. We need to cut red tape and hassles so that all sorts of business wants to come to Sarnia-Lambton. But, to the valley specific, getting energy costs under control and being the only party that will fight Ottawa's unfair Carbon Tax is a start.
5. What measures will you implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across the province?
Again ties in with #3 and #4. Get the economy rolling, get people to work. COVID wiped out the middle class, even those with a place to live are struggling. Unless the government is willing to so something to draw investors we are stuck.
Homelessness went up 400% in SL according to the county during COVID and the government has done nothing to get the economy back on track and the only jobs the government "creates" is in the public sector with little or no attention to the private sector.
6. In Sarnia there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023 alone, up 41 per cent from the year before. What plans do you have to keep repeat offenders behind bars?
While policing is more municipal related, I think again visiting budgets (at all levels) need to be gone thru and find the waste and apply the money to this....If thee were more jobs in the community people are less likely to be committing crimes. But, would love to sit and discuss with the chief to do what I can to help get the funds needed.
Tom Stoukas-Populist Ontario
1. Tell us about yourself?
My name is Tom Stoukas. I’m 50 years years old. I have two daughters, aged 5 and 6. I lived in Sarnia-Lambton most of my life. I grew up in the restaurant business and and owned a few small businesses over the years.
I have a degree in Political Science from UWO and a journalism diploma from Centennial College. I was the editor of the Cold Lake Sun in Cold Lake, Alberta and also worked for Bloomberg News for four years in Athens, Greece covering the Greek economic crisis.
Currently, I am a stay at home father focused on raising my children and also building a platform as an independent journalist. Also help my family with their restaurant occasionally.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
I was offered the opportunity to run in this surprise election at the last minute.
I have been critical of this government for years so I decided to put my money where my mouth is and run because I care about my kids future and I can’t bear to see the province deteriorate further under Doug Ford.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are of most importance to you?
Right now I am very alarmed by homelessness and drug addiction on the streets of Sarnia that you would associate with downtown Toronto.
This is the visible part of the problem. The less visible part that worries me is people who cant afford rent and have to live in someone’s basement or a homeless shelter. On top of that there are people who are housed but spend most of their income on shelter. This all happened on Bob Bailey’s and Doug Ford’s watch.
4. What would you do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
I would not support any globalist policies such as carbon tax and other environmental and regulatory levies that puts our industry at a disadvantage while refineries in China pay nothing.
We have the best workers and best safety records but there is always room to improve but industry should not be driven away by ideological climate talking points.
5. What measures will you implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across the province?
I would support an end to mass immigration which has driven up housing costs over the past ten years.
Governments also need to stop printing money and running huge deficits because it encourages inflation and real estate asset bubbles. At the municipal level remove redundant regulations that hinder development of lower priced housing and co-ops.
6. In Sarnia there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023 alone, up 41 per cent from the year before. What plans do you have to keep repeat offenders behind bars?
Prosecuting criminals is a shared responsibility between the federal government and Ontario. Ontario is responsible for jailing and paroling convicts with sentences less than two years while the federal government handles prisoners with two years or more. However bail conditions are controlled by the province who have to adhere to federal statutes.
So under Doug Ford criminals for some reason get easy bail conditions so they are back on the street the next day. Some of these people have gone on to kill people or commit other violent crimes while on bail.
So it's clear Doug Ford and Bob Bailey failed on two fronts. They didn't tighten up bail conditions for violent offenders despite Ford talking tough on crime. Instead of urging the federal government to keep violent criminals in jail for their full sentences, he has governed hand in hand with Justin Trudeau from enacting COVID mandates to spending billions on EV corporate welfare, all to the detriment of Ontario and the safety of its citizens.
---
Rachel Willsie-Liberal
1. Tell us about yourself
My name is Rachel Willsie, and I am proud to be your Ontario Liberal candidate for Sarnia-Lambton. As a nurse, educator, and policy advocate, I have spent my life working to strengthen healthcare, education, and community well-being. I understand the challenges our region faces and the opportunities we must seize to build a brighter future.
I grew up in Lambton County, surrounded by generations of family farmers. I know firsthand the importance of protecting family farms and ensuring agriculture remains a cornerstone of our economy. At the same time, I recognize the vital role of Sarnia-Lambton’s energy sector in providing jobs and economic stability. I am committed to responsible energy development that balances industry growth with sustainability, ensuring that innovation and new opportunities keep jobs right here in our community.
My campaign is about advocating for Sarnia-Lambton’s unique needs—ensuring strong local representation that delivers real results for families, workers, and businesses alike.
2. Why are you running in the provincial election?
For 18 years, Sarnia-Lambton has had the same representation at Queen’s Park, and yet our community continues to struggle with pressing issues—healthcare shortages, housing insecurity, and underfunded education. It’s time for new leadership that delivers real results for our region.
Under this government, hallway medicine has doubled, over 2.5 million Ontarians are without a family doctor, and our education system faces ongoing cuts. Meanwhile, Sarnia-Lambton has been left behind on key issues like healthcare recruitment, housing, and job creation. The province’s debt has ballooned to $86 billion, yet the government has abandoned crucial legislation—such as bills addressing homelessness and social services—leaving vulnerable people without support.
I am running to ensure Sarnia-Lambton has a strong voice that fights for our fair share of funding, supports local businesses and workers, and prioritizes investments that create long-term economic and social stability. Our community deserves leadership that is focused on action, not excuses.
3. What issues in Sarnia-Lambton are most important to you?
Sarnia-Lambton deserves strong representation at Queen’s Park that will fight for:
Healthcare – Addressing the financial deficit at Bluewater Health, increasing access to family doctors, and expanding Family Health Teams to improve primary care recruitment and retention.
Housing and Homelessness – Strengthening social housing, tackling homelessness, and ensuring Sarnia-Lambton has the mental health, addiction, and crisis supports needed to address these complex issues.
Education – Reversing cuts to elementary and secondary schools, ensuring adequate teacher and support staff levels, and securing stable funding for Lambton College without relying solely on international student enrolment.
Agriculture – Supporting multigenerational farming and ensuring farmers have the resources to sustain their businesses.
Disability Support – Increasing funding for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients so that no one is left behind.
Economic Growth – Advocating for stronger local representation that supports industry, small businesses, and workers across Sarnia-Lambton.
4. What would you and your party do to safeguard industry and jobs in Chemical Valley?
Sarnia-Lambton is built on industry, and the Ontario Liberal Party is committed to safeguarding the jobs and businesses that drive our local economy. Our plan includes:
Supporting responsible energy development while investing in sustainability and innovation to keep jobs in Sarnia-Lambton.
Ensuring skilled trades workers have access to local jobs by expanding apprenticeships and training programs.
Strengthening local representation to ensure economic growth is balanced with strong protections for workers and the environment.
Sarnia-Lambton deserves leadership that prioritizes industrial and economic stability while embracing innovation for long-term success.
5. What measures will your party implement to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Sarnia-Lambton and across Ontario?
The housing crisis is hitting communities like Sarnia-Lambton hard, and the Ontario Liberal Party has a bold plan to tackle affordability and homelessness, including:
Doubling the current stock of supportive housing with wraparound services to help vulnerable residents.
Eliminating the provincial land transfer tax for first-time homebuyers, seniors downsizing, and non-profit housing organizations.
Scrapping development charges on middle-class housing to lower costs and boost supply.
Introducing fair and phased-in rent control to prevent unreasonable rent increases.
Reducing wait times at the Landlord and Tenant Board to resolve disputes within two months.
Enhancing protections for both landlords and tenants to create a fair and balanced housing market.
No one should have to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table. Our plan ensures more homes get built faster while protecting renters and homeowners alike.
6. In Sarnia, there were 1,400 recidivism-related criminal charges in 2023, up 41% from the year before. What plans does your party have to address repeat offenders?
Public safety is a priority, and we need real solutions to tackle rising crime. The Ontario Liberal Party will:
Fix the broken bail system to ensure repeat offenders are held accountable.
Improve court efficiency so that cases are prosecuted properly and not dismissed due to delays.
Invest in the root causes of crime by expanding access to mental health services, housing support, and education programs to prevent reoffending.
A safer community means ensuring justice is served while also addressing the factors that drive crime in the first place.
---
Pamela Reid-Green Party of Ontario
The Ontario Green Team informed Sarnia News Today that Reid is not available for media responses or appearances this election. For more information you can visit Green Party of Ontario website.