Meet the Candidates – Sarah Good, Liberal Party
As part of our election coverage, we reached out to all political candidates with the same set of questions. Each candidate was given an equal opportunity to participate. We are publishing their responses exactly as submitted, without edits or corrections, in the order that we received them.
1. Economic Development and Job Creation
Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry includes everything from farms and factories to small businesses and tourism.
What specific policies will you support to stimulate local job creation, attract new investment, and help small businesses thrive across both rural communities and the City of Cornwall?
As your Liberal candidate for Stormont Dundas Glengarry, I’m committed to building towards an economy that works for everyone. As a Cornwall City Councillor, I’ve gained a solid understanding of our regional needs: targeted investments in infrastructure, practical support for businesses, and a strong voice in Ottawa to bring resources home. I know first hand how many young people move away for training, education, and employment; I see the opportunities to build success right here at home. First, I support policies to boost job creation by securing federal funding for infrastructure – like expanding broadband internet across rural areas. Second, I will push for tax incentives and grants tailored to small businesses, making it easier for them to hire locally, upgrade equipment and to weather tough times. Tourism, especially along the Seaway, is an area of great opportunity and I will advocate for federal dollars to enhance waterfront projects, marketing our riding as a must-visit destination, along with boosting local hospitality and retail. For new investment, we can create well-paying jobs while preserving the natural beauty of our region,by attracting clean-tech companies by leveraging Liberal commitments to climate innovation. Finally, I will work to strengthen supply chains, support family farms, upgrade modern tools, and ensure trade policies protect our producers from punishing tariffs. “Canada Strong” means focusing on developing our local economy, ensuring what we grow, make and enjoy in our region is safe from punishing tariffs or whims of foreign governments. My time on Council and on committees has taught me how to collaborate with businesses to deliver results like supporting Cornwall’s downtown revitalization. As your Member of Parliament, I will bring that same energy to Ottawa, ensuring SDG thrives economically, from rural communities to the city cores.
2. Healthcare Access – Family Doctors, Mental Health, and Emergency Care
Many residents struggle to find a family doctor, wait times for mental health services are long, and some local ERs have faced temporary closures in recent years.
What will you do to ensure that SD&G residents have consistent access to primary care, timely emergency services, and better mental health support—whether they live in Cornwall or the surrounding rural townships?
Healthcare is a top concern I hear from residents across SDG, whether it’s the challenge of finding a family doctor or accessing emergency care. In my professional role, supporting healthcare system transformation, I’ve seen firsthand how these gaps affect families, seniors, and our most vulnerable. While healthcare delivery is largely provincial, the federal government has a critical role in funding, innovation, and collaboration, and as your Member of Parliament, I will use these tools to make a real difference here. To tackle the shortage of family doctors, I will push for increased federal support to train and recruit physicians, with a focus on attracting them to practice in underserved areas like ours. The Liberal Party’s plan to expand medical training programs and offer incentives. I will also advocate for telehealth investments, so residents in remote areas can connect with doctors without long drives, building on what we learned during the pandemic. Wait times for Mental Health services are too long, and rural access is even scarcer. The Liberals have long championed the Canada Mental Health Transfer to fund provinces in cutting waitlists and boosting services. I will fight for that funding to flow here, prioritizing youth and seniors, and push for local solutions. My record on city council shows I’m a collaborator who gets results. As your Member of Parliament, I will partner with provincial leaders, local health teams, and residents to ensure SDG gets its fair share of federal resources. From primary care to emergency rooms to mental health, I will be a relentless advocate for a healthier, stronger riding.
3. Infrastructure – Roads, Bridges, and Broadband
Poor road conditions, aging infrastructure, and patchy internet still affect many parts of the riding.
What steps will you take to secure federal infrastructure funding for SD&G, including road and bridge improvements and expanding high-speed internet to underserved areas?
Infrastructure is the backbone of Stormont Dundas Glengarry, and I have heard loud and clear from residents: whether it’s calls for safer regional roads, aging bridges along the St. Lawrence, or spotty internet in rural areas like North Glengarry. As your Member of Parliament, I will take a collaborative approach to Ottawa to secure the federal funding we need to get SDG moving forward. I will advocate for a bigger share of the Liberal Party’s Canada Community-Building Fund to flow here – fixing roads and supporting vital infrastructure. I will work closely with municipalities and First Nations leaders to prioritize projects, like upgrades to Highway 138 and Cornwall’s waterfront infrastructure, so federal support matches our real needs. Broadband is just as critical. Patchy internet isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a barrier to jobs, education, and health care, especially in rural townships. I will champion the Liberal plan to connect every Canadian to high-speed internet by 2030, ensuring SDG isn’t left behind. Securing funds from the Universal Broadband Fund to fast-track projects here, partnering with providers to expand coverage, and holding them accountable to deliver.
4. Agriculture, Sustainability, and Climate Adaptation
Local farmers are facing unpredictable weather, increased costs, and shifting environmental regulations.
How will you support modern, sustainable farming in SD&G—helping producers adapt to climate change through innovation, environmental stewardship, and resilience-building programs that work for family farms?
Agriculture is the cornerstone of SDG, from dairy farms in North Glengarry to cash crops in North Dundas and Akwesasne’s traditional lands along the St. Lawrence. Farmers are grappling with unpredictable weather, rising costs, and new regulations, all while feeding our communities and beyond. As your Member of Parliament, I will stand up for SDG’s family farms and businesses, ensuring they have the tools to thrive amid climate change and US trade threats. I will support innovation by pushing for more federal funding through programs like the Agricultural Climate Solutions initiative. Provide grants for farmers to adopt cutting-edge tools, like precision agriculture tech or drought-resistant crops – that boost yields and cut costs. Sustainability is key, but it has to work for our farmers, not against them. I will fight for policies that reward environmental stewardship, like carbon sequestration or water conservation, without piling on red tape. The Liberal plan to invest in clean energy, like solar or biogas on farms, can lower energy bills, open new revenue streams, and increase the energy independence of SDG farmers. Resilience starts with strong supply chains and fair markets. I will work to protect our producers from trade disruptions and push for federal backing to keep processing right here in the riding. Programs like crop insurance need a boost too, and I will press Ottawa to tailor them to our region’s unique circumstances, so family farms are not left high and dry after a bad year.
5. Affordability and Cost of Living
Whether in Cornwall or rural SD&G, families and seniors are struggling with rising housing costs, groceries, fuel, and utilities.
What actions will you take to make life more affordable for residents across the riding, and how will your policies ensure that both urban and rural communities benefit—not just major cities?
Across our region, affordability is a pressing concern. Families are squeezed by skyrocketing grocery and fuel prices, seniors on fixed incomes struggle with utilities, and housing costs are out of reach for too many. As a mother and as a public servant, I have seen this firsthand, and I will focus my biggest effort on making life more affordable for SDG residents. Housing is a top priority, and I will champion the Liberal Party’s Build Canada Strong plan under Prime Minister Mark Carney to build 4 million new homes by 2035. Pushing for Federal investment through the Housing Accelerator Fund and new investments in pre-approved and pre-fabricated builds to cut red tape. I will work with local leaders to build more homes and secure federal support for low-cost loans, helping rural families repair or build. The Liberal commitment to keep middle-class taxes low and crack down on grocery price gouging will put money back in your pocket. Programs like the Canada Child Benefit and $10 a day daycare – lifelines for families here – will stay strong and continue to allow families the ability to choose what is best for their families. For rural residents facing high fuel and utility bills, I will advocate for expanded tax credits and clean energy options – like home retrofits or community solar – that cut costs and create local jobs. My council experience shows I can deliver for this community. As your Member of Parliament, I will make sure federal policies, like those we’ve seen recently from Prime Minister Carney, continue to improve for the residents of SDG.
