Liberal candidate for Windsor-West Richard Pollock has committed to seeing the Ojibway National Urban Park opened by the fall if elected.
Before the election was called, the government reaffirmed its commitment with $4.6 million of annual operating costs in addition to the $36 million that was set aside in the 2024 budget.
"The first commitment and probably the most important commitment is committing money to opening the park, naming the park, working with the city to transfer the lands that's the important initiative," said Pollock. "There's no question in my mind that if elected, that park will open in 2025."
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said, as of the beginning of March, the city has not had any material conversations with Parks Canada about turning over the city's park lands.
Incumbent Brian Masse's Private Members Bill to enact legislation to create the park was killed in the Senate when parliament was prorogued earlier this year. Masse has committed to reintroducing the bill if elected.
The Liberal government committed to the creation of the park through its plan to create 10 new national urban parks across the country.
Pollock said he is confident legislation to protect the park will follow once the park is established.
"The government is committing to 10 national urban parks, of course there will be legislation in connection to that. The important thing is let's get the park open," said Pollock.
The federal election is April 28, 2025.
Harb Gill of the Conservatives, Louay Ahmad of the Green Party, Jacob Bezaire of the People's Party of Canada, Joseph Markham of the Communist Party, and Margaret Villamizar of the Marxist-Leninist Party are also running in Windsor-West.