Three big questions face those living in the riding of Essex as Canadians head to the polls on September 20.
Will NDP candidate Tracey Ramsey win back the seat she held just two years ago? Will Conservative Chris Lewis hang on to win a second term? Or will a new Member of Parliament represent the riding after the votes are cast?
Voters in the riding have a history of switching party allegiances, so the outcome is no sure bet. With seven candidates running, voters have no shortage of options.
According to the 2016 census, there are 125,442 eligible voters in the riding. In the last election, 67.3 per cent cast a ballot.
Each of the major political parties, the Liberals, Conservatives, and the NDP are running on platforms promising economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to address climate change and making affordable housing available to the millions of Canadians who have been shut out of the housing market.
BlackburnNews.com is providing its readers with a quick look at who the candidates are running in each local riding, along with links to their social media pages, and their party's platform, so you can decide.
Conservative candidate Chris Lewis
Chris Lewis is the incumbent in Essex, having won 41.4 per cent of the vote in 2019. Even before that election, Lewis was no political novice. He served as a town councillor in Kingsville.
Lewis can be found on Facebook and his campaign webpage can be found here.
The Conservatives may have started behind the Liberals in the polls early on in the campaign, but polling indicates support is rising. As of this week, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole's party had a slight edge on the Liberals. Angus Reid said the Conservatives enjoyed the support of 33 per cent of Canadians as of the end of August, compared to 30 per cent for the Liberals.
The Conservative Party of Canada has promised to support small businesses to make up losses during the pandemic, enacting new anti-corruption laws, improve access to mental healthcare, address skyrocketing housing prices, and clean up the environment.
NDP candidate Tracey Ramsey
Before Lewis, NDP candidate Tracey Ramsey, a former autoworker, held the riding. She was first elected in 2015 after defeating Conservative Jeff Watson, who held the post for 15 years. As a Member of Parliament, Ramsey introduced a Private Member's Bill to protect the Great Lakes called Bill C-439 or The National Freshwater Strategy Act. She was also a vocal advocate for the agriculture and automotive industries in Windsor-Essex.
Tracey Ramsey can be found on Facebook, and Twitter. Her campaign webpage can be found here.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has promised a million new jobs for Canadians, higher taxes on the ultra-rich in Canada, and implement a universal pharmacare program. The NDP election platform can be found here.
Liberal candidate Audrey Festeryga
The Liberals have not held the riding of Essex since 2000 when Susan Whelan left politics, but Liberal candidate Audrey Festeryga is no stranger to campaigning. Festeryga has run in the past two elections coming in third. In 2015, the lawyer won 20.8 per cent of the vote and 19 per cent in the last federal election.
Audrey Festeryga can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Among other promises, the Liberal Party of Canada says it will improve living conditions for the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, build or repair 1.4-million homes across the country, and deliver better care for seniors.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has faced protests while on the campaign trail in recent weeks, and while polling for the Liberals has fallen since the onset of the campaign, Trudeau remains a top pick for Prime Minister after September 20, according to polling firm Ipsos.
Green Party candidate Nancy Pancheshan
Nancy Pancheshan has long been an advocate for the environment, so it is little surprise she has decided to throw her hat in the ring for the Green Party.
Nancy Pancheshan can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Her campaign webpage can be found here.
In addition to addressing climate change, the Green Party also believes housing is a human right and pledges to fix the nation's long-term care system.
People's Party of Canada candidate Beth Charron-Rowberry
The People's Party of Canada may be a young organization, but once again it is running a candidate in Essex. This time, Beth Charron-Rowberry is campaigning under that banner.
Her party is running on a platform of removing trade barriers between provinces, respecting the rights of those who own firearms, and updating the provincial equalization program.
The People's Party of Canada's platform can be found here.
Beth Charron-Rowberry can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Her campaign webpage can be found here.
Christian Heritage candidate Jeremy Palko
Christian Heritage, like the People's Party of Canada, has yet to get a member elected to the House of Commons. The Christian Heritage Party touts itself as Canada's only Christian, pro-life party.
Jeremy Palko can be found on Facebook.
Palko's campaign website can be found here.
Independent candidate George Andrews
Advance polling for the federal election starts on Friday, September 10. The advance polls will be open on September 11, September 12, and September 13. Voters also have the option of voting by mail or at any Elections Canada office.
