By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady
It was June 5th when the Ontario Legislature rose for summer recess but as any MPP can tell you, it is anything but a recess when we head back to our ridings. It is busy as can be, especially in a riding like ours where volunteers pack every single weekend with extraordinary events. The bulk of an MPP’s work is in the riding meeting with boards, organizations, or you, the everyday taxpayer. Plus, as MPP, during the recess, it’s my duty to advocate for you at conferences and meetings with the municipal, provincial, and federal powers-that-be across the province, and sometimes across the border too.
But the point of this column is to give you a sample of my second half of 2025 activities in 550 words.
Bill 21, Protect our Food Act, 2025 continued to gain traction with municipalities around the province supporting the legislation put forward by MPP Mike Schreiner and me. In July, we journeyed to Hamilton and started the day with a TV interview on the bill at CHCH. Then we scooted over to Hamilton City Hall where we made the case to city hall councillors — Bill 21 received unanimous support in Hamilton which teed it up for support within other council chambers. Time will tell whether Haldimand and Norfolk Counties will lend support – considering Norfolk is Ontario’s garden, I would hope council will see the merit in this non-partisan bill.
In August, I was in our nation’s capital for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference. It’s my job to join with our municipal leaders to meet with Ontario cabinet ministers or parliamentary assistants to remind them of the issues requiring their attention in Haldimand-Norfolk. I reminded those responsible that we still need to get shovels in the ground at Edgewater Gardens; that there’s a great opportunity for an energy project in the Nanticoke Industrial Park while protecting existing jobs at the site; Caledonia’s Argyle Street Bridge must be reconstructed (like yesterday); and, the Highway 6 and Haldibrook Road intersection remains in traffic chaos.
My battle raged on against the idea to build a city of 40,000 people at the Nanticoke Industrial Park. We must preserve good-paying jobs at the park and do everything we can to add jobs. Not to mention we want our rural, small-town way of life preserved and many of us are unapologetic for that sentiment. Unfortunately, four Haldimand county councillors continue to make decisions for everyone. Most recently, I was disappointed the same voting block voted against having a referendum question concerning the MZO on the 2026 municipal ballot.
The fall session was tight running between October 20th and December 11th. In those narrow bookends, I was able to make your case in the House. Here a few examples:
Vulnerable people are found among all walks of life across Haldimand-Norfolk and Ontario – families with loved ones with autism continue to wait for supports and agencies supporting those with developmental and physical disabilities can barely keep the lights on.
And it breaks my heart our classrooms in Ontario are in crisis. Students and teachers have become vulnerable people. Schools should be safe and secure. Classrooms are in chaos. I stood in the House and asked the premier to reimagine a school system where everyone can feel safe and thrive.
Vulnerability also extends to our economy. The Ford government originally billed itself as “open for business.” Sometimes I wonder. I have repeatedly asked the government to lower the small business tax rate to help businesses and consumers; I have supported it on finance committee as well. Again, I wait. We all wait.
And “we all” must eat. The government needs to strengthen the whole agricultural ecosystem. Never letting up on Premier Ford, I asked him when he will begin protecting and tariff proofing Ontario by strengthening local food systems through farmland protection and increased domestic processing. Why should we send food to be processed in the U.S. and import it back when we can do it ourselves? Again, we all wait.
I capped off 2025 by heading to Chicago with a team of colleagues to the Council of State Governments National Convention where trade and tariffs was on the agenda as well as civility in politics. More on that later.
In closing, I hope 2026 is off to a good start. Rest assured the battle for what is right continues.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk