Can the NDP hold onto its fortress Ontario riding of London-Fanshawe? Voters weigh in
Affordability, tariffs, threats to Canada's sovereignty top of mind for voters in key southwest riding
With days left in the federal election campaign, major party leaders are continuing to make their pitches to Canadians before election day on April 28. It's especially a do-or-die election for the New Democratic Party (NDP).
According to CBC's Poll Tracker, the NDP is trailing far behind other parties and may not win enough seats across the country to retain official party status. The fate of the NDP's Ontario caucus could rest in some battle ridings, such as London-Fanshawe.
The district covers London's east region which including neighbourhoods such as Pond Mills, Argyle and Fanshawe College. It's been an NDP-stronghold since 2006 and is currently represented by incumbent Lindsay Mathyssen, who succeeded her mother Irene Mathyssen as the riding's Member of Parliament in 2019 and is seeking re-election.
Mathyssen is running against Conservative candidate Kurt Holman, Najam Naqvi of the Liberals and Daniel Buta of the People's Party of Canada.
CBC News spoke to voters in the riding about what matters to them in this election and how they're feeling. Here's what they shared.
'It is a very scary time,' says autoworker
Ben Matthews is among hundreds of auto workers who were laid off from the General Motors CAMI Assembly plant in nearby Ingersoll, which announced its closure earlier this month.
"Being in the automotive industry, it is a very scary time for not only my plant but plants across Canada and Ontario," he said. "We've had part shortages, COVID and retooling so we've been off more than we've worked so it's been a hard five years and it's just getting harder."
Matthews voted in the advance polls over the weekend but admits it was a tough choice. A top priority for the next prime minister needs to be standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and his threats to Canada's sovereignty, said Matthews.
"I just have a hard time trusting the Liberals and I don't know if the Conservatives have what it takes, especially to stand up to Trump, so I have very hard trust issues. As much as I'd like to say NDP, it's hard to think who's going to be able to afford some of their platform," he said.
"I would like my kids to have a future where they don't owe billions of dollars in federal debt, so it's a tough decision."
The NDP has promised to raise about $94.5 billion by taxing the extremely wealthy, deliver a tax cut for workers and bolster Canada's health-care system. The party's platform would add $48 billion to the federal deficit over the next four years on top of the existing deficit.
Although Paul Gillmore is still deciding who he'll vote for, he believes whoever forms Canada's next federal government needs to immediately tackle cost of living.
"People either have to pay rent or can't eat. It's one or the other and it's a big problem but it seems [parties] skirt the issues," said Gillmore.
"I've been listening to what everyone's got to say and to me it sounds like what I hear every year. I need someone to put their foot down and say 'Enough is enough.'"
Some voters can't be swayed, others being strategic
Betty Edwards cast her ballot at an advance poll on Monday and she's confident Mathyssen can hold onto her seat. The long-time NDP supporter said she appreciates the party's efforts to bring national dental and pharmacare to Canadians.
"I really appreciate our local MPs here. I think people are really torn with what's going on politically and our country is really fighting to survive," said Edwards.
"We really need to just keep strong but we still have to keep our voice and for me, that's why we need NDP still. I won't be swayed to vote for the other two, I just can't do that."
Some voters told CBC they're leaning Conservative because they believe a change is government is needed and the Liberals have been in power for long enough. Others are voting strategically, including Mike Maisonville in London-Fanshawe, who voted Liberal for the first time ever.
Although his values align most with the NDP's, Maisonville believes Liberal leader Mark Carney is the right fit to guide Canada during these uncertain economic times, he said.
Maisonville said he's not loyal to any particular party, adding that he voted Conservative when former prime minister Stephen Harper was running and in the most recent provincial election, voted NDP.
"I think Carney is the best person to take on the American tariffs and Trump and I also think he's a fiscally responsible Liberal," said Maisonville. "I don't generally band myself to one particular party, I look for somebody who can lead the country well."
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With files from CBC's Meagan Fitzpatrick