Dr. Nell Thomas, Your Liberal Candidate for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes

Nell Thomas didn’t set out to become a politician. After serving her rural communities as a speech-language pathologist, physician, environmental advocate, and small business owner, she is stepping into the political ring. It feels like a natural next chapter in her lifelong commitment to public service.

“I’m running because of what our country is facing,” says Thomas, the Liberal candidate for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes. “This decision isn’t about me. It’s about Canada. It’s about all of us.”

Born in Toronto in 1966, Thomas was three years old when her family moved to a modest farm outside of Huntsville. Her childhood, rooted in the rhythms of rural life, laid the foundation for her enduring values of community, compassion, and service. She was raised in a log home built from a reclaimed barn, attended a two-room schoolhouse until grade six, and learned early that giving back wasn’t optional—it was a responsibility.

Her parents—both environmentalists, her mother a teacher and her father a broadcaster and politician—taught her the power of voice and action. “Neither of them was materialistic. We lived off the land and gave back where we could,” she recalls.

That sense of duty followed her through every step of her journey—from studying Linguistics and Communication Disorders, to founding a successful homecare therapy business in Muskoka, to becoming a family doctor at 45 and serving patients in small towns where healthcare access is increasingly fragile.

Thomas has spent the past decade practicing rural family medicine in Minden, where she’s part of the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team. She’s also a faculty member at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, mentoring the next generation of rural healthcare providers. But her impact goes beyond the clinic.

As an advocate for climate and public health, Thomas launched the Heathealth.ca project in 2024—a website and billboard campaign educating Canadians about the health risks of rising temperatures. She conceptualized the FOOD ALLIANCE to support local food systems, working on sustainable food policy with Trent University, and created ROADMAP, a climate fiction series that guides humans to live in balance with the land.

“Nell is the kind of person who sees a gap in the system and moves to fill it—with smarts, humility, and action,” says a colleague from her medical practice.

Thomas is bringing that same pragmatism and energy to her campaign. She believes this election is a critical moment for Canada's security, economy and environment. Nell is not afraid to call out the elephant in the room: “We need to face what’s happening south of our border,” she says, referring to Donald Trump’s return to the global stage and its ripple effect in Canada. “Our sovereignty, our economy, our values are under threat.”

Backing Prime Minister and economist Mark Carney, Thomas argues Canada needs demonstrated experience with a bold plan. “Carney understands how to navigate a financial crisis and trade war. He’s the right person for this moment—and I’m proud to stand with him.”

Her platform focuses on four key issues: defending Canadian sovereignty and democracy, building economic security for all, fixing the housing crisis, and preparing for a just energy transition.

“We need to grow interprovincial trade, invest in our Armed Forces, and guard against election interference,” she says. “At the same time, we must double housing construction, support working families, and secure local jobs and manufacturing.”

On housing, Thomas is clear: the crisis in Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes is holding back the region’s potential. “We don’t have enough affordable housing for workers, for families, for seniors. That’s why I support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to double the pace of housing builds, cut red tape, eliminate the GST on homes under $1 million, and fast-track construction training and apprenticeships.”

As a small business owner herself, Thomas understands the economic pressures facing families and entrepreneurs. “I’ve run a business. I know what it means to juggle payroll and expenses,” she says. “Carney’s plan to reduce taxes on middle-income earners, cancel the consumer carbon tax, and build a made-in-Canada supply chain makes sense for rural economies like ours.”

Healthcare, of course, remains close to her heart. As someone on the front lines, she brings firsthand insight into what’s working—and what’s broken. “We need to plan better for an aging population, mental health supports, improved access in rural areas."

Dr. Thomas is passionate about climate action—not as a partisan talking point, but as a physician concerned for her patients’ well-being. “Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a health crisis. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink—it’s all connected.”

Despite being new to politics, Thomas says her fresh perspective is a strength, not a weakness. “I’m not a career politician. Neither is Mark Carney. That’s what we need right now—people who bring experience from outside the bubble and are ready to get to work.”

As the campaign trail unfolds, Thomas is eager to meet residents across the riding, listen to their concerns, and talk about what’s possible when communities come together.

“I believe in Canada. I believe in our resilience, our creativity, and our sense of fairness. This isn’t about red or blue—it’s about building a country that works for everyone.”