A riding in Windsor-Essex may look a little different this time around, but the message is still the same.
On Monday, April 28, voters in the newly redrawn Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore riding will be asked to choose their next Member of Parliament.
The riding was redrawn on the federal level in 2022 to include a portion of Lakeshore bounded by Highway 401, the Puce River, and Lake St. Clair. The provincial riding remains unchanged.
In the 2021 federal election, Liberal Irek Kusmierczyk narrowly defeated Cheryl Hardcastle of the NDP by 669 votes.
WindsorNewsToday.ca has compiled a profile to allow undecided voters a chance to see where each candidate stands on a variety of issues facing the riding. Our newsroom either contacted each candidate directly or sent a questionnaire to their party headquarters or campaign manager.
Their responses are presented verbatim in alphabetical order, with minor editing where needed for flow and clarity.
Nick Babic - People's Party of Canada
Nick Babic previously ran in the 2022 provincial election as an independent candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh.
Q: Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
A: I decided to run for MP because I wanna restore Windsor to what it once was, that's the automotive capital of Canada. Our city was thriving, having a great nightlife. We had great food at every corner. We had tourists just coming here for the nightlife, and of course the Windsor-Detroit fireworks. Everyone was working and happy. I got tired of all our previous MPs doing nothing to save our jobs, and doing nothing in job creation. Nothing but broken promises, every four years. I'm born and raised in Windsor, and know exactly what we need here. The ideals I have in mind for our great city are exactly what we need. We have the highest unemployment rate in Canada, and have for the past 15 years. I plan on changing that with my strong leadership skills, and my viable solutions. We need someone with passion, drive, vigor, understanding, that knows what hard work is. I bring all that to the table and more. The only way you can understand people's pain is by experiencing it. I have broken my back in multiple places and know firsthand what it's like to be on the system. I know what most people here have been going through, and that they are currently going through. I will turn our city around given the chance. On April 28, 2025, I'll know if Windsor wants to change, with job creation, or four more years of the same.
Q: What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
A: We would aggressively cut spending, balance the budget as quickly as possible, and then lower taxes in a prudent manner to put money back into Canadians’ pockets. It’s possible to find $60-billion in savings by eliminating or drastically cutting the budgets of large programs and agencies such as corporate welfare, foreign aid, aid to Ukraine, climate change programs, the CBC/Radio-Canada, and financial support to media, equalization payments, regional development agencies, the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the Strategic Innovation Fund, etc. This would allow us to get rid of the $50-billion deficit in one year, and thereafter lower taxes. We would also cool down the housing market with a moratorium on immigration for as long as it takes to get housing supply and demand into equilibrium.
Q: How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
A: Health care and housing are issues that fall essentially under provincial jurisdictions and should be tackled locally, not by bureaucrats in Ottawa. A PPC government would respect the division of power and not try to intrude on provincial responsibilities.
Q: What kind of support should Ottawa offer border cities like Windsor tasked with border protection duties? Windsor is still owed $900,000 for its action during the convoy protests.
A: I will petition Ottawa for more federal funding for our Police, or increase the presence of our CBSA to patrol more of the border. As for the $900,000 owed, during the convoy protests. This is something that our incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk should of dealt with in his time as MP. I will remind Ottawa daily they need to pay that bill.
Q: How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
A: The best way to minimize the impact of U.S. tariffs is to quickly find an agreement. Maxime Bernier is the only federal leader who rejects imposing counter-tariffs and getting into a trade war with the U.S. He would sit down with President Trump and put everything on the table to reach a new trade deal, including supply management in the dairy sector. By unleashing our economy with lower spending, lower taxes, and cutting red tape, a PPC government would also make it easier for any temporarily impacted workers to find jobs in other, growing sectors of our economy.
Q: Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
A: It should do nothing. There is no need to lower emissions. A PPC government would withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and eliminate all programs related to climate change. We would instead focus on real environmental problems.
Q: How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
A: The government has made the problem of lack of affordable housing much worse with its policy of mass immigration and its numerous ineffective and costly programs. Politicians and bureaucrats should be involved as little as possible and let the private sector do its job.
Kathy Borrelli - Conservative Party of Canada
Kathy Borrelli finished third in the 2021 federal election for Windsor-Tecumseh, earning 25.6 per cent of the vote.
The Borrelli campaign did not respond to requests from WindsorNewsToday.ca. to complete an election questionnaire. If a response is received at a later time, it will be added to this profile.
Helmi Charif - Centrist Party of Canada
Helmi Charif is a businessman and political activist. He ran as a candidate for Windsor City Council in the 2018 and 2022 municipal elections.
Q: Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
A: I'm running because I’m a member of this community who understands very well our struggles. I ran for office for the first time in this riding and finished in a strong second place. Since then, I’ve never stopped working for the betterment of my community.
But now, as I look at the challenges facing our region—rising costs of living, job insecurity, and the frustrations many of us face—I feel compelled to run again. I bring integrity, passion, and the courage to put the interests of my people and Canada's interests above political parties.
Q: What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
A: Lowering the cost of living is one of the top priorities of the Centrist Party.
A centrist government will consider reducing the size of government, review and control spending, and will aim to balance the budget in 5 years. The foreign aid which Canada sends to many African, Asian, and other countries ends up in the bank accounts of corrupt politicians and does not reach the deserving people. We will review all our foreign aid, corporate subsidies, grants, mega salaries and benefits, extravagant perks of politicians and those in government, and cut any other unnecessary government spending. We aim to lower the personal income taxes after eliminating the deficit as our fiscal situation will improve.
Q: How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
A: Without a doubt homelessness, mental health, and addiction are major issues that our communities are facing, and this is a discussion we cannot shy away from. The mental well-being of people affects the way they work their jobs, raise their kids, and run their homes. People who find themselves in the streets and without a home often find themselves fighting mental health battles without any resources or places to turn to in their time of need. It's clear that the institutions meant to help our society are lacking in their infrastructure and are struggling to provide the services that our residents really need.
The Centrist Party of Canada will make sure that these institutions are properly funded and are able to serve our communities effectively, they play a key role in the solution to chronic homelessness caused by the poor mental health of our residents. The Centrist party believes that solving these critical issues requires a collective collaboration from all levels of government, municipal, provincial, and federal; in addition to the organizations and social programs and communities to come together to implement a real solution and make sure these organizations have enough funds to build affordable housings and to hire more outreach workers, and psychiatrists and physicians as agents of change.
Q: What kind of support should Ottawa offer border cities like Windsor tasked with border protection duties? Windsor is still owed $900,000 for its action during the convoy protests.
A: Ottawa can offer various types of support to border cities like Windsor, tasked with border protection duties.
Financial Support - Provide funding for infrastructure upgrades, security measures,
Resource Allocation - Deploy additional personnel, technology, and equipment to support border security efforts.
Training and Capacity Building - Offer training programs for local law enforcement and border officials to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Intelligence Sharing - Share intelligence and threat assessments with local authorities
Community Engagement - Support community outreach and engagement initiatives to build trust and cooperation between border officials and local residents.
Infrastructure Development - Invest in border crossing infrastructure.
Economic Support - Offer economic incentives or support to businesses and communities affected by border security measures.
Q: How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
A: To support Canadian workers impacted by U.S. President Trump's tariffs, a centrist government could take a mix of short-term relief measures and long-term strategic steps.
Direct Financial Support - Offer temporary financial assistance or wage subsidies to workers in affected industries (like steel, aluminum, agriculture, etc.
Job Training and Transition Programs - Invest in training programs to help displaced workers transition into high-demand fields.
Business Support and Innovation Incentives - Offer temporary subsidies or tax relief to Canadian companies hurt by the tariffs, encouraging them to keep production and jobs at home.
Trade and Diplomacy Measures - Apply measured, targeted tariffs in response, aimed at putting pressure on U.S. sectors with political influence, while avoiding harm to Canadian consumers or critical industries.
Public Infrastructure and Green Economy Investment - Use the opportunity to invest in national infrastructure and the green economy, creating new jobs and modernizing Canada’s industrial base.
Q: Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
A: The centrist party believes that the carbon tax is not dead, Mark Carney puts it on hold and it might come back.
Canada alone has a very small percentage of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (between one and two per cent) yet has one of the world's highest per capita emission factors at 15.6 tons per capita. We believe in adopting scientific-based GHG emissions reduction targets for 2030. The Centrist Party of Canada will work to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 by supporting innovation, clean technology investments, and embracing sustainable systems.
Q: How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
A: The Centrist party supports building affordable housing on federal land, stopping corporations from holding rental units.
The Centrist Party would support implementing a price control on new homes so that they become affordable for first-time home buyers whereas the Liberal Party and Conservative Party always support the land developers.
Ottawa should not work directly with developers.
Alex Ilijoski - New Democratic Party of Canada
Alex Ilijoski lives in Tecumseh and is employed as a paramedic communications officer. He ran for Tecumseh Town Council in the 2022 municipal elections.
Q: What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
A: New Democrats will lower your bills by going after corporate greed and helping working families directly. We’ve already delivered dental care to 3.3 million people, started rolling out pharmacare, and provided a $500 housing benefit. But we’re not stopping there. We’ll:
• Scrap the GST on basics like diapers, kids' clothes, groceries, phone and internet bills, and home heating.
• Cap prices on essential grocery items to combat price gouging.
• Make more life-saving prescription drugs free.
• Build affordable homes and fight rent gouging by banning renovictions and fixed-term leases.
Q: How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
A: We’ll treat these interconnected crises as the national emergency they are—not with delay or criminalization, but with care and urgency. Our plan includes:
• Making mental health care part of Canada’s public health system under the Canada Health Act.
• Providing free mental health medication through pharmacare.
• Investing in harm reduction, safe supply, treatment, and on-demand recovery services to address the overdose crisis.
• Building deeply affordable housing and banning corporate landlords from snapping up homes.
Q: What kind of support should Ottawa offer border cities like Windsor tasked with border protection duties? Windsor is still owed $900,000 for its action during the convoy protests.
A: New Democrats recognize Windsor’s frontline role. We’ll:
• Build a new border officer training facility in Windsor to train hundreds of new hires annually.
• Hire thousands more border officers and equip them to stop the flow of illegal firearms and drugs like fentanyl at and between ports of entry.
• Ensure border cities like Windsor are properly reimbursed for their contributions to national security and border enforcement.
Q: How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
A: We’ll protect Canadian jobs, not billionaires' profits. Our “Workers for Canada” plan includes:
• Dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs and cutting off critical minerals needed by U.S. industries.
• A $10,000 rebate on Canadian-made EVs to boost domestic manufacturing.
• A Jobs War Room to coordinate with provinces, unions, and business leaders.
• A strengthened Employment Insurance system: universal 360-hour qualification, 50-week benefits, 2/3 income replacement, and expanded work-share programs.
Q: Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
A: We’ll stop the giveaways to big oil and focus on protecting Canadians. Our climate action plan includes:
• Ending $12 billion in subsidies to oil and gas giants.
• Expanding federal wildfire prevention and emergency response.
• Funding resilient infrastructure, especially in remote and Indigenous communities.
• Creating a national disaster insurance program and helping families retrofit their homes to withstand floods, fires, and extreme weather.
Q: How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
A: The NDP believes housing should be for people, not profits. We will:
• Build more affordable homes using public land—no more luxury condos.
• Ban investment firms and corporate landlords from buying up properties.
• Crack down on renovictions and rent gouging.
• Support first-time homebuyers and streamline permitting, so homes get built faster.
While Ottawa can work with builders, we’ll put people before profits—not give blank cheques to developers without affordability guarantees.
Irek Kusmierczyk - Liberal Party of Canada (incumbent)
Irek Kusmierczyk has served as the Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh since the 2019 federal election. He was re-elected in 2021.
Previously, he served on Windsor City Council, representing Ward 7.
The Kusmierczyk campaign did not respond to requests by WindsorNewsToday.ca to complete an election questionnaire. If a response is received at a later time, it will be added to this profile.
Beth St. Denis - Christian Heritage Party of Canada
Beth St. Denis is the executive manager of a small business in Windsor. She serves as a youth mentor for a local church and assists in seniors' ministry. She was a candidate for Windsor City Council in the 2022 municipal elections.
Q: Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
A: I decided to run for Member of Parliament because I care deeply about people. I care about families, children, and my community. I have seen firsthand how far Canada has drifted from the principles of truth, justice, and moral responsibility. I believe it's time for that to change. I want to be part of the solution. I want to help build a future where Canadians can once again live with purpose and hope.
As a Christian Heritage Party candidate, I believe Canada must return to foundational values rooted in reason, integrity, and respect for life. We must reintroduce a biblical worldview in our public institutions, where every individual is seen as valuable, as created in the image of God.
This recognition brings a renewed sense of responsibility in how we govern, how we protect our most vulnerable, and how we shape the next generation.
Our government must be accountable and transparent. Canadians deserve leaders who don’t just follow political trends, but who stand firmly for truth and make decisions based on wisdom, not ideology. I’m running because I want to bring back logical thinking, moral clarity, and principled leadership. These principles have been too often ignored in today’s political climate.
This isn’t about power or position. It’s about service. It’s about restoring the moral compass of our nation and advocating for policies that uphold justice, protect children, and promote the well-being of every Canadian. I believe that with courage, compassion, and conviction, we can begin to rebuild a Canada we can be proud of.
Q: What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
A: The Christian Heritage Party recognizes that the key to lowering the cost of living is restoring fiscal responsibility at the federal level. Canada must get its finances in order to build a stable and affordable future for all Canadians. The CHP proposes the following initiatives:
Eliminate the income tax and replace it with a fair tax on purchases.
End deficit spending by introducing legislation that requires balanced budgets.
Abolish carbon taxes, which drive up the cost of fuel, electricity, transportation, and consumer goods.
Promote Canadian oil and gas production to achieve energy independence and reduce household energy costs.
Reform immigration policy to ensure sustainable population growth. Excessive immigration levels have placed significant strain on Canada's housing market and healthcare system.
By prioritizing fiscal discipline, energy security, and sustainable infrastructure, the Christian Heritage Party will take meaningful steps to make life more affordable for all Canadians.
Q: How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
A: The Christian Heritage Party recognizes that homelessness, mental illness, and addiction are urgent national concerns requiring effective solutions rooted in truth and accountability. The CHP believes in providing compassionate care for individuals struggling with mental illness and addiction. We believe in care that prioritizes healing and restoration over harm reduction.
Mental illness is a growing concern, often exacerbated by government policies that normalize or enable harmful substance use. The widespread availability of destructive drugs and the promotion of supervised injection sites have failed to reduce addiction or restore health.
Instead, these policies have contributed to rising rates of drug dependency, suicide, and mental illness. To begin addressing these challenges, the CHP proposes the following:
Promote preventive and holistic health approaches, including alternative medicine, to address root causes rather than relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions.
Ending the public endorsement of destructive drug use and replacing it with recovery-focused support services.
Investing in mental health facilities and programs that offer therapy, rehabilitation, and community reintegration.
Through community investment, job training, spiritual renewal, and a shift in policy focus from enabling to healing, the Christian Heritage Party is committed to rebuilding lives and communities devastated by homelessness, addiction, and mental illness.
Q: What kind of support should Ottawa offer border cities like Windsor tasked with border protection duties? Windsor is still owed $900,000 for its action during the convoy protests.
A: Windsor plays a critical role in national security and economic stability. The federal government must recognize and appropriately support the unique responsibilities Windsor has.
The federal government must fully reimburse Windsor for costs incurred in fulfilling federal duties. The $900,000 still owed to Windsor is an outstanding debt that must be addressed immediately.
Moreover, the Federal Court's ruling that the invocation of the Emergencies Act was unreasonable and violated Canadians’ Charter rights underscores the need for federal restraint and accountability. Justice Mosley affirmed that the Emergencies Act is a tool of last resort, not a convenient mechanism for managing difficult situations.
Going forward, the federal government must:
Provide timely financial compensation to municipalities for federal security-related operations.
Ensure transparent decision-making rooted in the law and respectful of Charter rights.
Avoid overreach and unconstitutional measures, particularly those that undermine public trust and burden local governments.
Support for border cities should be grounded in respect for constitutional law, municipal autonomy, and the critical role they play in protecting Canada’s borders.
Q: How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
A: The best way for the federal government to support Canadian workers is by fostering greater national self-sufficiency. Canada must address trade and tariff concerns with the United States in a professional, respectful manner, free from threats or hostility. The U.S. remains our largest trading partner and closest ally, and it is in both nations’ best interest to strengthen this relationship. The Christian Heritage Party proposes the following strategies to reinforce Canada’s economic position:
Enhance border security to ensure the safe and efficient movement of goods and people.
Encourage domestic manufacturing to build greater economic resilience and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
Promote Canada’s oil and gas sector to achieve true energy independence.
Invest in agriculture, vital for Canada’s economy and a key contributor to food security.
Expand development and extraction of critical minerals, precious metals, and other non- renewable resources vital to national prosperity.
By strengthening our economy and increasing self-reliance, Canada will be better positioned to negotiate the removal of tariffs and other trade barriers, advancing the prosperity of both nations.
Q: Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
A: In my view, the carbon tax is not truly dead. It has simply been paused in an attempt to win political favour. The Christian Heritage Party has consistently opposed this tax, which should never have been implemented. It unfairly burdens families, farmers, and small businesses, increasing the cost of virtually all goods and services without delivering measurable environmental benefits.
The CHP does not embrace the theory that carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the main driver of climate change. While we acknowledge that the climate is changing and that human activity may have some impact, the idea that CO₂ emissions are the central cause remains unproven and highly contested by many credible scientists. We believe it is irresponsible to base national policy on a theory that lacks broad scientific consensus.
We oppose carbon taxes, cap-and-trade systems, and similar schemes that attempt to control the weather through taxation. These approaches have done little to protect the environment but have had a significant negative impact on Canadian households.
The CHP advocates for responsible, evidence-based environmental stewardship. We support protecting our air, soil, and water from real pollution and environmental degradation through practical initiatives, such as improving industrial waste management, promoting sustainable agriculture, and investing in clean water infrastructure.
Canada must move beyond ineffective and costly carbon-focused policies. The CHP will repeal all federal carbon taxes and instead implement sound environmental strategies.
Q: How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
A: The Christian Heritage Party believes that addressing Canada’s housing crisis requires more than just incentives for developers, it requires tackling the root causes of skyrocketing demand and rising costs.
To restore housing affordability, the CHP would dramatically reduce immigration levels, foreign student visas, and refugee intake until housing supply can meet existing demand. We would also restrict foreign ownership of Canadian homes, businesses, and farmland, which has contributed significantly to real estate speculation and inflated prices.
Furthermore, the CHP would work to eliminate unnecessary red tape, streamline zoning regulations, and remove bureaucratic delays that drive up construction costs and hinder the development of new housing.
While the federal government may cooperate with developers, the focus must remain on reducing the systemic pressures that have made home ownership unattainable for many Canadians. By removing artificial demand and economic barriers, we can make affordable housing a reality once again.
Roxanne Tellier - Green Party of Canada
Roxanne Tellier was also the Green Party of Ontario's candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh in this year's provincial election.
Q: Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
A: I never thought I’d run in an election - that seemed like something that only career politicians could do. But I’ve always believed that our purpose in life is to leave the world a better place, and the world’s looking a little neglected and sad these days. They deserve clean water, and clean air, and they DON'T deserve to be bullied by the American president. I’ve got kids and grandkids; I run for them, and for all the future children who deserve a bright future.
Q: What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
A: It all starts with putting more money in Canadian pockets. The Green Party vows to eliminate federal income taxes for low-income Canadians and decrease the tax burden on Canadians earning $100,000 or less by raising the basic personal amount to $40,000. As well, we would raise the Federal minimum wage to $21/hr and index it to inflation and productivity growth, as well as establish a National Livable Wage Index to set wage floors by region based on the cost of housing, food, and essentials. And we would work with provinces & Indigenous governments to implement a Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) ensuring economic security for all Canadians.
We believe that no one should be forced to live in poverty. Our Guaranteed Livable Income would replace outdated, demeaning social assistance programs with a single, unconditional income floor, based on what it actually costs to live. It’s a simple promise: if you fall on hard times, you’ll still be able to eat, pay rent, and live with dignity.
Q: How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
A: The Green Party believes that housing is a right, not a privilege.
We believe that no one should be forced to live in poverty. Our Guaranteed Livable Income would replace outdated, demeaning social assistance programs with a single, unconditional income floor, based on what it actually costs to live. It’s a simple promise, if you fall on hard times, you’ll still be able to eat, pay rent, and live with dignity. And we believe that care should never be for sale. We’ll enforce the Canada Health Act, expand public delivery, and bring mental health fully into Medicare. From long-term care to reproductive health to addiction services, we’re building a care system that’s public, universal, and rooted in compassion, not profit.
Q: What kind of support should Ottawa offer border cities like Windsor tasked with border protection duties? Windsor is still owed $900,000 for its action during the convoy protests.
A: We will never let outside threats weaken what makes Canada strong. We stand for urgent action to defend Canada’s borders, protect Canadians from disinformation and cyber threats, and secure our natural resources and critical infrastructure from foreign interference. In an age of rising authoritarianism, foreign interference, cyber warfare, and climate-driven instability, our national defence must be bold, self-sufficient, and unshakably principled. We would revise Canada’s Defence Doctrine for the modern era, one that confronts these threats head-on. We must prepare for the worst, while also showing the world what it means to stand up for the values of justice, equality, and freedom. Canada’s response must be swift, coordinated, and unwavering.
Our plan expands Arctic and coastal security patrols, upgrades surveillance and defence capabilities, and restores domestic production of key defence assets. We will cancel the F-35 contract and invest in Canadian and allied alternatives that strengthen our sovereignty and industrial capacity. Canada’s security is not just physical — it is also ethical. We would end arms exports to human rights abusers, ban autonomous weapon systems, and ratify the global treaty to abolish nuclear arms.
And we recognize that military readiness must be paired with civilian resilience. Through the National Civil Defence Corps, we will prepare Canadians to respond to climate disasters and emergencies here at home.
Q: How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs?
A: The future of Canada’s trading partnership with America has never been more uncertain. But there’s an opportunity here. By standing up to America’s bullying, we can pave the way for a fairer, greener economic future, one rooted in sovereignty and independence.
We must protect Canadians from the fallout of America’s unfair and unprecedented attack on our economy. We must put Canada first by prioritizing investment in Canadian businesses and infrastructure, while divesting ourselves of the influence of American corporations, especially by US companies tied to Trump and his allies. We must strengthen Canadian sovereignty. This means establishing a national reserve of key resources, banning the export of unprocessed materials like timber, and continuing to put pressure on America by applying export taxes on key resources. We must continue to build trade partnerships with Mexico and Europe in order to limit the fallout of America’s illegal tariffs. And we must hold US corporations accountable by introducing taxes on US tech monopolies and oil companies operating in Canada and reinvesting these revenues in local economies and Canadian jobs. It’s time US interests paid their fair share.
Q: Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
A: The Green Party plans to launch a nationwide energy efficiency retrofit program to lower emissions from buildings, homes, and industrial facilities. We would provide direct grants and zero-interest loans for renewable energy installations in homes, businesses, and communities.
We would also mandate net-zero building standards by 2030 by updating the National Building Code. Lastly, we would set a national target to reduce overall energy demand across all sectors by 50 per cent by 2050 through efficiency measures, electrification, and sustainable urban planning.
Q: How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
A: Affordable housing is a major issue in Windsor. Housing is a human right, but for too long major corporations have played real estate like it’s the stock market, and now the average middle-class family struggles to pay for rent, and is often unable to scrape together enough to buy a home. The Big Corps only see homes as a way to make easy money; regular families who need homes can’t compete.
But Windsor knows how to build housing! And we have the workers, the materials, and the know-how to do so. All that’s missing is government leadership. The Green Party would like to help with that.