ontario election: windsor-tecumseh candidates prioritize health care, housing, affordability
the riding of windsor-tecumseh can trace its roots back...
4 minute read
the $6-billion nextstar energy battery plant in east windsor is just one of the major new projects underway in the electoral riding of windsor-tecumseh.
dan janisse
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windsor star
the riding of windsor-tecumseh can trace its roots back to a 1996 merger of pieces of the former ridings of windsor-riverside and windsor-walkerville to create windsor-st. clair.
in 2007, windsor-st. clair became windsor-tecumseh and contains all of tecumseh and the windsor neighbourhoods of riverside, portions of walkerville and sandwich south.
the riding has 122,798 residents based on the 2021 census count.
windsor-tecumseh also contains much of the area’s emerging economic might, being home to a large collection of tool and mould-making companies and the new $6-billion nextstar energy plant.
it hosts windsor airport, which will see significant industrial development on the airport lands and sandwich south. the region’s new acute-care hospital will also be located in the riding.
electoral boundary map for the ontario riding of windsor-tecumseh.
map courtesy of elections ontario
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windsor star
the riding’s voting preferences have evolved from being overwhelming supportive of the liberals’ dwight duncan (1995 to 2013), followed by even more staunch support for the ndp’s percy hatfield (2013 to 2022), and then progressive conservative of ontario mpp andrew dowie, who won the seat with nearly half the total vote (46 per cent) in 2022.
the ndp’s gemma grey-hall was the 2022 runner-up (30 per cent), followed by liberal gary kaschak (14 per cent).
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turnout in 2022 was 38,779 out of a possible 94,976 voters, a decline of 7.2 per cent over the 2018 election.
dowie and grey-hall, both running again in the riding, will be joined in this year’s race by liberal connor logan, the green party’s roxanne tellier, communist party’s kyle ford and new blue’s sophia sevo, who also ran in 2022.
the following is a synopsis of each candidate’s reasons for running and their priorities for the riding.
note: pc candidate andrew dowie and the greens’ roxanne tellier didn’t return multiple requests from the windsor star for a phone interview or emailed responses to questions. the new blue party’s sophia sevo and ontario party’s steven gifford entered the race too late to be included here.
gemma grey-hall, ontario new democratic party
occupation: senior development officer, university of windsor faculty of science
gemma grey-hall, ontario new democratic party candidate in the ontario 2025 election for the riding of windsor-tecumseh.
contributed photo
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windsor star
reason for running: “i think it’s imperative we have a government fighting for what people need and what matters most to them. i’m not seeing that with our current doug ford government.
“i’ve been speaking to a growing body of people who are also deeply unhappy with the state of our health care, education and we’re still waiting for our hospital.”
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priorities: “health care is at top of the list. we need to ensure we’re using our dollars to support our health care system by funding it appropriately.
“next, it’s fighting the tariffs. you need to elect a government that’s focused on providing people with what they need when times are dire. we know we’re facing a current and ongoing threat from the american government regarding tariffs.”
connor logan, ontario liberal party
occupation: constituency assistant for member of parliament irek kusmierczyk (l — windsor-tecumseh)
connor logan, ontario liberal party candidate in the ontario 2025 election for the riding of windsor-tecumseh.
contributed photo
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windsor star
reason for running: “i’ve seen the issues with health care. i don’t have a family doctor.
“housing, i can’t afford to buy a home and there’s many people my age (23) and even in their 30s who are struggling to find a home.
“i also see the issues of education and the cuts to programs that are important to students. our education system is seemingly breaking at the seams.”
priorities: “we need to get the mega hospital built. there are people sitting for hours in emergency rooms and hallways of hospitals.
“there are also people waiting at walk-in clinics for hours. we need more investment there. we need more family doctors.
“we also need to build affordable homes. to do this we’re going to scrap some of the taxes (development charges) that have been put up by previous governments that will end up saving $170,000 on a home.
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“with education, we’ll cut interest rates on osap (ontario student assistance program), so that will help students as well.”
kyle ford, communist party of ontario
occupation: mould maker
kyle ford, communist party of canada-ontario candidate in the 2025 election for the riding of windsor-tecumseh.
contributed photo
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windsor star
reason for running: “i feel the time is getting right for people to reconsider the economic system we’re living in. running is the way to raise the party’s profile and get a chance to get our voice in government and combat the conservative and liberal talking points raised, the anti-worker legislation that has been passed and put a voice for the working people in parliament.”
priorities: “number one is addressing the cost-of-living crisis. it has made life difficult for everyone.
“in addition to that is supporting workers’ rights. there are a lot of working-class people in the riding.
“if they’re living paycheque to paycheque, the risk from corporations pulling out of the area or layoffs and restructuring in economic times like this is a real risk for workers. they need support and help from the government that really hasn’t been given lately.”
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