Election Day is just around the corner, and if you're unsure who to cast your ballot for, here is the list of candidates running in the riding of Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong.
SarniaNewsToday.ca reached out to all seven candidates running to be the next Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding.
Here are their responses.
Marilyn Gladu-Conservative Party of Canada (incumbent)
Please provide a brief bio about yourself, and why you decided to run for member of parliament?
As a chemical engineer who has lived and worked in Sarnia-Lambton for 40 years, I put my name on the ballot in 2015 to address high unemployment in our community, an increasing gap in services for seniors, and a belief that having worked globally in over 30 countries in many different sectors, that I had the experience to be a strong voice for Sarnia Lambton.
In the 10 years I have been elected three times, I have helped bring new industries, jobs and over $400 million federal dollars to the riding. This election is critical for the future of Canada we knew and still love, and I am ready to work on behalf of all the residents of Sarnia-Lambton- Bkejwanong.
Where would your party put its spending priorities?
We will put Canadians first for a change by building homes, unleashing our natural resources ( building LNG facilities, pipelines from west to east, the Ring of Fire, etc.), bolstering our military with an Artic base, planes, and battleships, resourcing our borders, and preventing crime.
What will your party do to help address the rising cost of living?
We will axe the tax on everything for everyone forever. That includes repealing the carbon tax, the clean fuel tax, and the Liberal-proposed capital gains tax. We will also reduce the tax rate for seniors by 15 % and allow their first $34000 of income to be entirely tax-free. We will make capital gains that are reinvested in Canadian businesses 100% tax-exempt.
With the possibility of a tariff-induced recession and large layoffs, how do you plan to help local workers and businesses during this challenging transition?
To prevent layoffs, we will create the Keep Canadians Working Fund with up to $3 billion in business loans. We will increase interprovincial trade and grow trade relationships to reduce dependence on the USA.
What will you do to ensure your party understands the issues the Canadian oil and gas sector faces, now and possibly in the future?
As the ONLY party that supports Canadian Oil and Gas and as a chemical engineer who worked in the industry for 32 years, I will continue to meet with our local sector to ensure they receive the support needed, as I did in the face of the Enbridge Line 5 crisis.
What will your party do to address homelessness as well as needed support for mental health and addiction treatment locally?
We will bring home recovery beds so that our loved ones can overcome addiction. Conservatives introduced the suicide prevention hotline, and I have been a strong advocate for increased mental health support.
The best way to address homelessness is to address the underlying causes- the unaffordable cost of living after a decade of failed Liberal policies, the mental health and addiction issues that can lead to homelessness, and the lack of affordable housing. That is what the Common Sense Conservatives will do.
Mark Lamore -Christian Heritage Party of Canada
Please provide a brief bio about yourself, and why you decided to run for member of parliament?
I lived in Sarnia almost my entire life. I have been married to my lovely wife for 26 years, have four kids, 10 grandkids and one great grandchild. I enjoy playing hockey with friends and have coached SMAA baseball and minor hockey in Petrolia.
Where would your party put its spending priorities?
The priority for spending is to make a government more efficient and show the public where the Liberals have thrown away two generations worth of money. Figure that out then you can prioritize where to spend, anything other than that is an empty promise.
What will your party do to help address the rising cost of living?
How about cutting the harmful and useless Carbon Tax to start. I think almost everyone at this point can appreciate it is a scam.
With the possibility of a tariff-induced recession and large layoffs, how do you plan to help local workers and businesses during this challenging transition?
Instead of gaslighting voters and fear mongering, go back to work with our best ally and get started to work on a deal that both sides can limit this type of tomfoolery. Because we are not going to win a trade war with the US few countries can.
What will you do to ensure your party understands the issues the Canadian oil and gas sector faces, now and possibly in the future?
Treat Alberta like the major contributor to this country that it is, Ottawa starting in the Trudeau V.1.0 era has mis treated it. If Quebec does not want Alberta Oil going thru it perhaps the Equalization payments then should be halted.
What will your party do to address homelessness as well as needed support for mental health and addiction treatment locally?
Many of these issues are more provincial and municipal based with the Feds just supplying the cash, perhaps a Federal government making life liveable for its own citizens is a good start.
Lo-Anne Chan-New Democratic Party (NDP)
Please provide a brief bio about yourself, and why you decided to run for member of parliament?
I’m a local small business owner and have sat on the Board of Directors for the Sarnia-Lambton Children's Aid Society, Sarnia-Lambton Rebound, and Community Legal Assistance Sarnia.
I’m a passionate advocate for families, rural communities and the under-represented. Visibility isn’t just about being seen - it’s about being heard, recognized and valued. This community should be a place of growth and opportunity for everyone, not just those in power. My goal is to connect with people across the entire riding so that I can fight in Ottawa for affordability and equitable access to care for everyone.
Where would your party put its spending priorities?
New Democrats will fight for people, not corporations. To make your life more affordable, we’ll put more money in people’s pockets, with a tax cut targeted to those who need it the most.
We’ll take the GST off the essentials and put a price cap for the groceries that families need. We’ll also support more competition in the grocery sector by helping small and medium grocers, including community-driven food cooperatives, get into the market and set up shop.
New Democrats will invest in the services people rely on, and the infrastructure communities need.
An estimated 6.5 million Canadians don’t have a family doctor – and the problem is only getting worse. Because of New Democrats, the government implemented dental care and better access to birth control and diabetes medications. We will keep delivering for you by improving the working conditions for health care professionals, which will both improve patient outcomes and reduce burnout among doctors and nurses. We will also make it easier for health care workers to work in Canada by streamlining the licenses of workers from other countries and creating pan-Canadian licensing to work anywhere in Canada.
What will your party do to help address the rising cost of living?
New Democrats are in it for working people, not big corporations or billionaire CEOs. We can and will lower your bills. Since the last election, New Democrats used their power to help lower your monthly bills, and we plan on continuing to help make your life more affordable by scrapping the GST on essentials like groceries, diapers, kids’ clothes, and home heating. With grocery price caps and expanded pharmacare, we can ensure that families get the support they need to thrive
With the possibility of a tariff-induced recession and large layoffs, what is your plan to help local workers and businesses during this challenging transition?
The NDP believes in building a worker-first economy. Our plan is built with the input of progressive economists, working people and labour.
COVID-19 exposed massive gaps in Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) system. We would use every dollar from retaliatory tariffs to directly support impacted workers. The NDP would remove barriers to accessing EI by reducing the threshold for qualifying to a universal 360-hour standard, and also cover contractors and the self-employed. We would also extend the duration of benefits to 50 weeks, and increase the benefit level to two-thirds of insurable earnings with a minimum weekly benefit of $450. We would also eliminate the one-week waiting period to access EI and expand the EI work-share program that allows top-ups for workers who have fewer hours of work.
What will you do to ensure your party understands the issues the Canadian oil and gas sector faces, now and in possibly in the future?
The NDP believes it is a top priority to invest in people and the opportunities they need to succeed. Energy demand in North America is projected to remain constant until 2050, so under all credible scenarios, Oil & Gas will remain essential to meet that demand.
The Canadian government has implemented a Clean Fuel Standard with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% before 2030. There is a requirement that 10-15% of fuels must come from renewable sources by 2030 - that can include agriculture-derived fuels (e.g. soy, canola corn), biofuels and hydrogen. Industry diversification is needed and Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong needs to be adaptable as part of this energy transition. We already have some infrastructure in place for co-processing bio-feeds locally, and the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership is working towards potential investment opportunities in regards to Advanced Recycling of plastic waste.
It is possible to have good paying jobs in creating low carbon fuels and clean technology, while also allowing farmers to diversify where they sell their yields.
What will your party do to address homelessness as well as needed support for mental health and addiction treatment locally?
More people than ever are struggling with their mental health – but care and treatment can be expensive, and waitlists are too long. New Democrats want to see mental health care covered under the Canada Health Act, and we want to see access to mental health drugs expanded under a national pharmacare program. The NDP will boost the Rental Protection Fund to help non-profit organizations purchase affordable apartments when they come onto the market.
Locally, this means that places like Ohana’s Landing can continue to help provide housing to clients from Rebound and Sarnia-Lambton Children’s Aid Society. This allows social welfare organizations to not “overspend” on Airbnbs and hotels in order to prevent youth from becoming unhoused.
Jacques Boudreau- Libertarian Party of Canada
Please provide a brief bio about yourself, and why you decided to run for member of parliament?
I am a semi-retired actuary with 38 years of experience in the life insurance industry, including ten years as an appointed actuary. I have been the leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada since 2021. This is my fourth federal election, and I have also run three times provincially—always under the Libertarian banner.
I’m running for office because our country is drowning in regulation, red tape, and taxes. I'm also deeply concerned that individual freedoms—especially freedom of speech—are under attack by the major parties. We need to push back on all these fronts and restore the principles of liberty.
Where would your party put its spending priorities?
The Libertarian Party believes in the smallest government possible.
At the federal level, this means limiting the role of government to just a few core responsibilities: foreign affairs, national defence, the judiciary and criminal justice system, and a national police force.
What will your party do to help address the rising cost of living?
The primary cause of inflation is an increase in the money supply—something the Bank of Canada has badly mismanaged. Its goal of maintaining a 2% annual increase in the cost of living is nonsensical and, as usual, disproportionately harms the poorest among us.
The Libertarian Party advocates ending the central bank’s monopoly on the money supply and monetary policy, and returning to a system of free banking.
With the possibility of a tariff-induced recession and large layoffs, what is your plan to help local workers and businesses during this challenging transition?
While we are generally opposed to government intervention in such matters, we recognize the need for temporary relief for sectors severely impacted by recent tariffs. Any such relief would be guided by the following principles:
1. Correcting distortions, not propping up inefficiency: The goal is not to indefinitely support struggling industries, but to prevent an unjust collapse caused by external state intervention—someone else’s statism, not market failure.
2. Strict limits and transparency: Any support must be transparent, time-bound (e.g., 6 to 12 months), and tied to measurable adaptation goals. This is not about open-ended handouts or cronyism; it’s about temporary, targeted support.
3. No new normal: Relief must come with firm guarantees that it won’t become permanent. We oppose turning short-term measures into long-term government meddling, like politically motivated bailouts of failing industries.
What will you do to ensure your party understands the issues the Canadian oil and gas sector faces, now and in possibly in the future?
At the Libertarian Party, we believe we have a solid understanding of the challenges facing the oil and gas sector.
We would immediately put an end to laws, production caps, or regulations that unnecessarily restrict the industry. As advocates of a free market, we believe that if there is demand for oil and gas, the sector should be free to meet that demand without government interference.
What will your party do to address homelessness as well as needed support for mental health and addiction treatment locally?
We have deep respect for the Canadian Constitution and recognize that these matters fall outside the jurisdiction of the federal government.
That said, the Libertarian Party would provide indirect support by fostering a much stronger, freer economy—one that generates significantly more wealth and opportunities to help those in need. This country is being dragged down by excessive regulation, red tape, and taxes. We are committed to drastically reducing all of them.
Brian Everaert- People's Party of Canada (PPC)
Please provide a brief bio about yourself, and why you decided to run for member of parliament?
I am a resident of St. Clair Township and have been a Union iron worker for 28 years. I live on a small farm with the love of my life Shannon. The reason I am running for MP is to bring positive change to the riding of Sarnia Lambton Bkejwanong. This can be achieved by listening and acting on the wishes of the constituents.
Where would your party put its spending priorities?
Spending priorities will be focused on Canadians.
Far too much money is sent overseas to other countries when it can be spent to improve our services right here in the country. We must pay particular attention to infrastructure that helps us attract more business to Canada and the riding.
What will your party do to help address the rising cost of living?
We will cut taxes on income and balance the budget to ensure we get a handle on inflation. We will also remove the fixed pricing on milk ,eggs, and poultry to give some relief at the grocery store.
With the possibility of a tariff-induced recession and large layoffs, what is your plan to help local workers and businesses during this challenging transition?
The PPC believes that we need to negotiate not retaliate against the tariffs.
We want to avoid hardship by opening up our trade agreement with the USA and negotiating a trade agreement that is fair and prosperous for both Canada and our neighbours.
What will you do to ensure your party understands the issues the Canadian oil and gas sector faces, now and in possibly in the future?
We will remove Canada from the Paris Accord and invest in our gas and oil producers by helping to build pipelines, cut regulations and red tape that hold back expansion and take a Canada first approach to wealth through our resource sector.
What will your party do to address homelessness as well as needed support for mental health and addiction treatment locally?
Like I promised in 2019 I will do everything in my power to get a Federally funded detox and rehab facility built in Sarnia Lambton Bkejwanong. The Federal government must step up and provide funding to help with the current drug and addiction issues facing the communities of Sarnia Lambton Bkejwanong.
Tony Mitchell-Rhinoceros Party
Please provide a brief bio about yourself, and why you decided to run for member of parliament?
I am married (although during this election she pretends we aren’t). I have two children, six grandchildren, two dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree. I am a retired elementary school principal. I am running because I think the current political system and climate is dysfunctional. Politicians are more concerned about themselves and their party as opposed to Canada. I want to be a “None Of The Above” candidate for people who feel no candidate earned their vote but still want to vote in protest.
Where would your party put its spending priorities?
Our spending priority will be defending our border from American interference. This will be accomplished through five goals:
1) Defend the Great Lakes by installing thousands of people riding Jet Skis on them. Jet Skis are so annoying that American invaders would simply turn back to avoid them.
2) Create a Special Forces Unit with expertise in math that every day will count The Thousand Islands to ensure Trump hasn’t stolen any.
3) Pay the 10% American tariff on exports from the penguins on Heard and McDonald Islands in exchange for the use of the islands as a military base against the USA.
4) Confuse Americans invaders trying to cross the 49th Parallel by installing tens of thousands of U-Turn signs on the border.
5) To prevent escalation of tensions due to miscommunication, all Canadian military personnel will be taught to be fluent in the Official Language of the USA: Illiteracy.
What will your party do to help address the rising cost of living?
We will remove the GST on all goods and services across Canada. This will put over $50 billion dollars back into Canadian pocketbooks and stimulate the economy.
To replace the government revenues, we will tax all foreigners who live abroad. Any country that refuses to collect the tax will have 25% tariff put on them and they will receive a permanent ban of importing maple syrup and Nickelback CDs.
With the possibility of a tariff-induced recession and large layoffs, what is your plan to help local workers and businesses during this challenging transition?
We will motivate workers to achieve great things by having them qualify for the maximum CPP benefit at retirement once they reach the age of 30.
There was a man who never had a real job in his whole life. He was elected to Parliament where he did nothing. At age 31 he qualified for a Parliamentary pension worth over $3.4 million upon retirement. The knowledge of being financial secure upon retirement motivated the man to become Prime Minster of Canada. That man is Pierre Poilievre.
If a guaranteed secure retirement is enough to motivate a man who never has worked in his life to become Prime Minister, imagine what it would do for a hard working local worker.
What will you do to ensure your party understands the issues the Canadian oil and gas sector faces, now and in possibly in the future?
In 2017, I was part of a National Energy Conference in Winnipeg involving industry CEOs, politicians, scientists, economists, activists, and citizens looking at Canada’s long-range energy future. I have a B.Sc. and a B.Ed. with 39 years experience as an educator. So other than insider knowledge most people wouldn’t have, the education to understand the concepts, and the skills to communicate them, I am completely unqualified.
What will your party do to address homelessness as well as needed support for mental health and addiction treatment locally?
The most consistent charities to help the homeless are churches. To help them raise more money to do even more, religious institutions will be allowed to sell naming rights and sponsorships for their parishes. For example: The Jordan Peterson Presbyterian Church, St. Phillips Screwdriver Catholic Church, the Dunlop Tire United Church.
George Vandenberg-Liberal Party of Canada
Please provide a brief bio about yourself, and why you decided to run for Member of Parliament?
I’m proud to have spent my entire adult life serving this community — as a police officer, small business owner, volunteer, and now city councillor. My parents immigrated to Sarnia from the Netherlands after the war, and I was raised with a deep respect for fairness, accountability, and public service.
Over the years, I’ve helped found the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Centre, chaired the Sarnia Humane Society, and served on the Sarnia Police Services Board. In every role, I’ve seen the impact of decisions made far from our community — and the need for someone who brings our values to the table in Ottawa. That’s why I’m running. Sarnia–Lambton deserves representation that listens, shows up, and delivers results.
Where would your party put its spending priorities?
Under Mark Carney’s leadership, Liberals are committed to strategic investments which protect our sovereignty, delivers long-term affordability and economic growth. This includes tax reductions for low and middle classes, building affordable housing, investing in skilled trades, infrastructure for new transportation and businesses, clean energy, and supporting the agricultural sector, seniors and families.
We believe in responsible spending that creates jobs, grows the economy, and helps more Canadians build stability — not cuts that leave people behind. We’re also focused on protecting publicly funded healthcare, Canadian industries and modernizing public infrastructure, especially in regions like ours.
What will your party do to help address the rising cost of living?
The Liberal party is already delivering real support — and we’ll keep going. We’ve expanded $10/day childcare, delivered the Canada Dental Plan and national pharmacare to help families save on critical health costs. We will cut the lowest income tax rate by 1% to help 22 million Canadians, and removed the GST for first-time homebuyers on homes under $1 million. We are investing in the most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War to build half a million affordable houses and incentivizing builders to generate more low cost rental units.
With the possibility of a tariff-induced recession and large layoffs, what is your plan to help local workers and businesses during this challenging transition?
Sarnia–Lambton is at the heart of Canada’s industrial economy, and we need a government that treats it that way. We’re responding to U.S. tariffs by investing in domestic production and rebuilding Canadian supply chains — especially in critical sectors like energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. We will promote a buy Canadian agenda to generate jobs in new and existing business. We will create a fund to help people and businesses negatively impacted by tariffs.
Our plan includes major investments in Canadian innovation, worker training, and export diversification. And we’ll support small businesses through grants, tax cuts, and growth strategies tailored to regions like ours. George is committed to making sure Sarnia–Lambton is at the front of the line for these supports.
What will you do to ensure your party understands the issues the Canadian oil and gas sector faces, now and in the future?
My Liberal colleagues and I understand the importance of the energy sector to our region. The Liberal plan recognizes that Canada must remain a powerhouse in both conventional and clean energy — and that we need a responsible, worker-first transition strategy.
The Liberal plan will utilize carbon capture; ensure pipeline safety; create an energy corridor to grow markets; introduce a single body for undertaking expedited comprehensive reviews which maintain respect for provincial, Indigenous partners and the environment; invest in downstream innovation while creating new opportunities for clean energy, and skilled trades. We will retain a cap and trade system to incentivize large industries to become more efficient and alter their caps through trades with those who are more efficient.
I will advocate directly for energy workers and industrial leaders in our region, making sure federal decisions reflect the reality on the ground here. Traditional energy production remains important but we also need to diversify to make this area a leader in clean energy as well (e.g., solar, wind, etc. )
How will your party do to address homelessness as well as needed support for mental health and addiction treatment locally?
We can’t fix homelessness without affordable housing — and the Liberals are responding with the largest federal housing buildout in over 70 years.
I will work to or share of that investment to Sarnia–Lambton including family oriented pre-fabricated affordable homes, co-ops and non-profit housing models. New homes also mean new jobs. The Liberal plan involves working with municipalities to cut development charges in half for multi-residential housing. We will cut the GST for first time buyers of new homes under $1 million, introduce tax incentives to build more affordable rental housing. We will improve incentives to undertake home retrofits which reduce home energy costs.
Homelessness intersects with mental health, addiction, and poverty. That’s why the Liberal government has already invested tens of millions of dollars in mental health so provinces can expand support for frontline care.
My Liberal colleagues and I support a compassionate, community-based approach for mental health and addiction — one that includes affordable housing, voluntary treatment access, improving affordability and quicker access to our social and economic safety nets such as employment insurance, as well as more upstream support that prevents addiction and mental health issues before they start.