Canada Votes 2025: In the federal riding of Essex, both rural and urban concerns on the ballot

The federal electoral district of Essex is one of the largest in our region — encompassing multiple municipalities with both rural and urban areas stretching from farm country to quaint downtowns.

Despite the wide variety, one issue was top-of-mind for multiple people across Essex interviewed by CBC Windsor in the lead-up to voting day on April 28. 

"How is our next prime minister going to deal with the Trump issue? How are they going to deal with the tariffs?" asked Amherstburg resident Terry Berthiaume.

Harrow resident Brenda Lalonde, 65, shared similar worries. "The issues that are going on in the United States — That's the biggest issue for me. The new tariffs? I'm very worried about that."

Lalonde feels that Canada's next prime minister needs to be someone "who's going to be strong enough to fight for Canada."

Belle River resident Frank Cheslea, 71, is also concerned about Canada's present and future challenges with one particular man.

"Donald Trump. Some of his ideas, I don't agree with — That's putting it politely."

Amherstburg resident Dennis Richardson, 67, said the trade war compelled him to cancel more than $120,000 in U.S. goods and contracts on the new house he's building. He wants a federal government that is committed as he is to putting Canada first.

"I would like to see the Conservatives get back in here and straighten things out," Richardson said. "You can see what's happening through the 10 years of the Liberal parties... It's all been downhill."

But LaSalle resident Megan Clough, 44, is tired of the negative rhetoric.

"This election, I'm really looking for a candidate that's going to help unify the country. I'm really tired of all the anger and animosity between Canadians, and the division."

The Essex riding includes LaSalle, Amherstburg, the Town of Essex, Harrow, Kingsville, and eastern parts of Lakeshore.

Although geographically smaller than the ridings of Chatham-Kent-Leamington and Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong, the Essex riding actually has more eligible voters than either of them: 108,646, according to Elections Canada preliminary lists for the 2025 election.

The riding has a federal Liberal history that spans decades. Eugene Whelan and his daughter Susan Whelan kept Essex mostly Liberal from 1974 to 2004.

But for the past twenty years, Essex has been largely Conservative when it comes to federal politics  — first under Jeff Watson, and now under Chris Lewis.

Lewis, the Conservative incumbent MP, won the 2021 election with a vote share of more than 41 per cent.

In this coming election, Lewis will face Liberal candidate Chris Sutton, NDP candidate Lori Wightman, and People's Party candidate Jason Henry.

Lakeshore resident Jamie Adjetey-Nelson, 40, said he will be voting, but he admits he hasn't been following federal political news and discussions. His perspective tends to be focused at the community level.

"Being a coach, I think about the youth and their future," he reflected. "Mental health is my profession. I see a lot of things happening,"

"There's a lot of changes that are happening right now with the international climate... So I want to hear what the federal government is going to do to support people."

Meanwhile, Leo Guilbeault — president of the Essex County Federation of Agriculture — says he wants to know what the candidates will do to help the riding's farming roots.

"Government support has been decreasing for agriculture. So what are your thoughts on agriculture in Canada in five, 10 years from now?" Guilbeault asked. "How do you see agriculture in Canada looking down the road?"

Krista Sweet, 50, owns and operates FATE Fashion and Accessories, an apparel store in the Town of Essex. Her main question for candidates is about support for entrepreneurship.

"What are you going to for small business?" Sweet asked. "Things like taxes, hiring incentives. What are you going to do to help us be profitable and to still be here at the end of this year?"

Amherstburg resident Keith Dupuis says he's voted for different parties at different times in his life and is less concerned about party loyalty than he is about true representation and democracy in action.

"If you don't vote, don't complain," Dupuis said. "It's the Canadian way. That's the way you have to do it. You have to vote."

Essex voters will have an opportunity to talk to their candidates in person on the night of Thursday, April 17, when the ECFA hosts a meet-the-candidates event at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 201 in Essex.

The event runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

Voters will go to the polls on April 28, and can also vote in advance polls. Visit elections.ca for information.