Bruce LePage spent more than three decades serving as a teacher – he never thought he’d take a run at politics.
But LePage also says he believes in giving all people a voice and standing up for what’s right, and so he’s tossed his hat into the ring for the 2025 provincial election as Northumberland-Peterborough South’s New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate.
When asked about what he sees as the top issues in the riding ahead of the Feb. 27 election, LePage talked with MBC about affordability and housing, healthcare, and of course, education. With the election just around the corner, MBC is catching up with area candidates.
We’ve asked your candidates to tell us who they are, why they’re running, and to weigh in on the most pressing priorities locally, in addition to the early election call. All candidates were asked the same questions.
This feature is dedicated to LePage, a retired teacher of 32 years and a Cobourg resident, who tells us he never had any plans to pursue politics, but he’s always believed in serving his community.
LePage grew up in Nova Scotia, where he finished his degree before moving to Toronto in 1998 where he attended grad school for an environmental studies program, he shared.
“And then I met this young woman, and I ended up staying here for the rest of my life,” said LePage. “We ended up getting married and I decided that it would probably be best to do what I wanted to accomplish – which was to help people – to become a teacher.”
LePage taught in Toronto for about nine years until his son was born and a decision was made to move back to his wife’s hometown area.
From 1999 until retirement in 2022, LePage taught at the high school level in Cobourg. His teaching career in total spanned 32 years, which also made room for volunteering, coaching sports, and more, he shared.
Others may know LePage through his current volunteer work, which includes work with his dog through the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program.
We asked LePage what inspired him to run – here’s what he had to say.
But then there was a phone call a few weeks ago. At the time, LePage recalled he was cooking an egg for the dog for his supper. On the other end of the line, LePage heard his name was given to run in the area and was asked would he accept?
The platform is there for the issues that need to be talked about, explained LePage, adding he felt this was also a chance to talk for residents who otherwise might be ignored.
“So, I figured I could do this for my community and whatever happens, happens. I never planned to be a politician – this is definitely not a career move for me. I have no aspirations beyond doing what I can for my community, but I thought this is a good way to give it a shot.”
When asked to weigh in what he believes are the top three issues in the region, LePage keyed in housing and affordability as priority No. 1, touching on concerns around increasing encampments, how young adults can’t move out of their parents’ homes or afford even a one-bedroom apartment unless making $80,000 annually, as well as growing concerns around rising costs for families across the board.
LePage sees affordability and housing as deeply intertwined. Elaborating on the issue, he said the NDP has a plan to build more affordable and co-op housing, put rent controls back in place, and to close loopholes to keep people in apartments tackling “renovictions” and the like.
“I think (priority) No. 2 in this area, I would imagine, would be healthcare. We have an ageing population here,” continued LePage, who’s also expressed grave concerns around the treatment of nurses.
“Our hospitals, nurses, (and) doctors are severely underfunded, and we need to fix that …”
Meanwhile, the retired teacher also has education top of mind.
“If you don’t have kids in the school system, you don’t realize how crowded the classrooms are now,” he noted, claiming the Conservatives have quietly cut about 1,500 per student funding in recent years.
LePage said that means there’s 5,000 fewer teachers in Ontario, and simply put, the classes are bigger, students who need the most help aren’t getting it, there’s fewer education assistants (EA) and early childhood educators (ECE), and so on. LePage also described physical conditions for students and staff in some instances as “horrendous,” saying there are schools where air conditioning doesn’t work, the roof is leaking, bathrooms aren’t working or there’s lead in the pipes, as examples.
When asked about what priority No. 1 would be if elected, LePage said his priority will remain the people, and that means the first course of action would be to talk to as many residents as possible to delve deeper into concerns to bring to Queen’s Park.
“I’m not going in with my agenda – I don’t pretend to know it all. But I listen and I learn, and I fight.”
LePage was also asked about the early election call.
“This election is going to cost us about $190 million and we certainly do not need it now – it is not necessary now,” responded LePage, adding Premier Doug Ford was “literally unstoppable” with a year-and-a-half left in power with “a huge majority.”
LePage explained he takes issue with the U.S. tariff reasons cited, arguing President Donald Trump will barely negotiate with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and said Ontario’s premier will be part of Team Canada approach to those issues.
He accused Ford of calling the election early to secure his future, “not secure our future.”
“I think (NDP Leader) Marit Stiles and our NDP team, we’re the ones who are going to be working for you every single day and not for ourselves.”
At press deadline, additional candidates confirmed via Elections Ontario included incumbent David Piccini for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario; Liberal candidate Dorothy Noronha; Green candidate Maxwell Groves, and New Blue Party candidate Joshua Chalhoub. Stay tuned for additional profiles.
Election Day is Feb. 27.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)