Garneau Bisaillon pledges stronger governance, public engagement

Christine Garneau Bisaillon and Jennifer Kyle both announced their bids last week for mayor of the County of Brant, joining the race as nominations officially opened for the 2026 municipal election.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Christine Garneau Bisaillon entered the race for mayor in the 2026 municipal election, saying she wants to restore public confidence in local government and refocus the county on financial stability and community engagement.

In a press release issued April 28, Garneau Bisaillon said she is seeking to “restore public confidence in municipal government” and bringing a renewed focus to financial stability and community engagement.

“It is time to restore public confidence in municipal government, return us to a stable financial position, and focus on what counts closest to home first,” she said.

Garneau Bisaillon resigned from council in October 2025, describing an “irreconcilable conflict” between her role as an elected official and the needs of her business, Creek View Acres Nursery & Orchard. At the time, she acknowledged the possibility of a future run for higher office.

Her resignation followed concerns tied to a dispute involving the removal of unmarked mature trees on her property, which was later reported in regional media by a Local Journalist Initiative Reporter. The County maintained the work was authorized and conducted appropriately, calling some of her claims “patently false.”

Now re-entering municipal politics, Garneau Bisaillon said her decision to run for mayor stems partially from that experience.

“My experience as a resident and business owner last fall left me even more committed to returning the County to a place of good governance, financial sustainability, and better management,” she said. 

Ultimately, she says the experience offered a silver lining, a chance to reflect on what happened and focus on making meaningful changes for the better. 

She also addressed her departure from council and subsequent decision to run for mayor.  “I never stopped being passionate about municipal issues and present in our community, but it quickly became clear I needed to be in a different role to lead the changes I felt strongest about.” 

A key theme of her campaign is rebuilding trust between council and the public, which she said has eroded.

“There’s a clear disconnect between public engagement and Council decisions, so restoring public confidence begins with listening to residents and taxpayers,” she said. “We need better governance that prioritizes transparency, consultation, and integrity.”

Since leaving council, Garneau Bisaillon has remained active in the community, using social media to break down municipal decisions and budget matters for residents.

“When Mayor Bailey’s budget came out last fall, I wanted to understand why the proposed property tax increase was so much lower than what the Long-Term Financial Plan forecast months earlier,” she said. “I felt that residents and taxpayers deserved to know this information and the response online was overwhelmingly positive.”

She said that effort evolved from education into advocacy, driven by public interest ahead of the nomination period.

Looking ahead, Garneau Bisaillon said she plans to foster a more collaborative and respectful council environment.

“A confident Mayor values respectful debate and diverse opinions, rather than preventing Councillors from advancing views that don’t align with their own,” she said. “I won’t tolerate bullying behaviour.”

While she is among a small number of women to seek the mayor’s chair in Brant, Garneau Bisaillon said her campaign will remain focused on municipal issues rather than identity.

“It’s important that everyone in our community sees themselves represented on Council, but I wouldn’t say I’m letting the prospect of being the first woman elected Mayor of the County guide my campaign,” she said. 

Garneau Bisaillon was first elected to Brant County Council in fall of 2022. She was the first candidate to announce intentions to run for Brant’s top council seat.