Election Day is just around the corner, and if you're unsure who to cast your ballot for, here is the list of candidates running in the riding of Windsor-West.
WindsorNewsToday.ca reached out to all candidates running to be the next Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding and asked them several questions.
Here are their responses.
Jacob Bezaire- People's Party of Canada
1) Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
I decided to run for parliament because I felt obligated to. I’m a single father living in Windsor, wondering how much longer we can keep living like this. Like many Windsorites and Canadians in general, I’m tired of being taken advantage of by these politicians. I will not stand by and do nothing while Windsor and Canada deteriorate.
2) What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
Ending all tariffs, and supply management. This will bring the automotive sector back to work and lower the price of groceries. We desperately need to balance the budget, Canada is spending nearly 82 billion on interest payments alone in 2023-2024. Once the budget is balanced, we will be in a position to reduce taxes on a massive level. Reducing the size of the federal government, pausing immigration, and ending foreign aid. We need to focus on Canada.
3) How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
Before we open immigration, we need to get these people off the street and into homes. We need to end these safe injection sites. Look around, there’s more people hooked on drugs than ever before. By making life more affordable for all, we hope that will help alleviate some of these issues.
4) 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.
This is another perfect example of the federal government screwing over the public. The municipal government was faced with an extraordinary challenge, with pressure from the federal government to do something about it. The federal government needs to reimburse Windsor for their efforts.
5) How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
The federal government should be realistic and realize they’re playing with people’s lives here. They need to make a fair deal that benefits Canadians and Americans alike. End the trade war, get people back to work.
6) Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
Carbon emissions are literally plant food. It’s a scam. The federal government is ripping off Canadians.
7) How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
The best thing we could do is cut red tape for these people so they can do their jobs faster and without government interference. The federal government aren’t housing experts, they have no business micromanaging. This is a municipal and provincial issue. These are the experts in these fields. By pausing immigration until the housing market catches up it will reduce the demand so the developers can catch up even faster.
Richard Pollock- Liberal Party of Canada
1) Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
I am inspired by the moment. I am inspired by the call for action and I am inspired by Mark Carney. I have a record of public service as a federal Crown Prosecutor who has spent decades standing up for justice, fairness, and the people of Windsor West. Windsor West voters know this is the most important election of our lifetime - one that will shape our future, our country and our way of life. It’s time that Windsor West had a strong voice inside government. It’s time for that voice to take centre stage in the government of Mark Carney - a Canada Strong government that will stand united against Donald Trump’s tariffs and stand strong to protect the automotive sector that is the lifeblood of our local economy.
2) What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
Mark Carney’s Liberals will take action to bring down gas prices and put money back in the pockets of Canadians. Carney’s Canada Strong government has cancelled the divisive carbon tax, saving Canadians on average 18 cents/litre on the price of gas where the tax was applied. This builds on the Liberal plan to make life cost less for the middle class by delivering a tax cut that will save a two-income household up to $825 a year.
The Liberal plan includes eliminating GST for first-time homebuyers on homes up to $1 million, saving Canadians up to $50,000 on the purchase of their first home.
Carney’s Canada Strong government will also expand dental coverage to Canadians ages 18-64 to provide access to about 4.5 million Canadians so more people get the care they need, saving Canadians about $800 in dental care costs.
The Liberal plan will also get the government back into the business of building homes and doubling the pace of construction over the next decade to almost 500,000 new affordable homes a year.
The Liberal plan calls for increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement by five per cent, giving low-income seniors up to $652 more tax-free dollars.
3) How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
Every Canadian suffering from mental illness or addiction deserves compassionate, timely and effective care. And every Canadian left without a place to live deserves a home to call their own. A Liberal government would work with our partners in healthcare, the provinces and territories, to tackle homelessness and the drug crisis head-on.
Our government would also oversee building 500,000 affordable, starter homes a year, just like the government did for returning World War Two veterans and their families. We will provide financing and incentives for prefabricated home builders, affordable home builders, multi-residential housing, rental housing and converting existing structures into affordable housing.
We will also eliminate the GST for first-time home buyers, saving families up to $50,000.
4) 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 Liberal government will train 1,000 new Canada Border Services Agency officers. They will crack down on drugs, illegal guns and gangs that steal cars and smuggle them out of the country. Windsor’s border is the busiest land border crossing in the country, and these officers will fortify the current complement of CBSA officers for whatever is needed at this crucial crossing.
If elected, Liberal candidate Richard Pollock in Windsor West, which hosts both the Ambassador Bridge and the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, will certainly fight for Windsor to be compensated for the remaining money it was forced to spend to deal with the blockade.
5) How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
My parents were auto workers. I worked at the General Motors transmission plant for six summers to pay for my education. I know how important the auto industry is to Windsor and to Canada.
A Liberal government’s immediate priority would be to support workers affected by the tariffs. We also have a long-term plan to lessen the industry’s vulnerability in the future. We would create a $2-billion Strategic Response Fund to support workers immediately. All revenue from our reciprocal tariffs would also go to supporting workers. We are also changing Employment Insurance so workers can get the supports they need faster.
The Strategic Response Fund would also be used to begin fortifying the Canadian supply chain from raw materials to car parts to finished vehicles to lessen our vulnerability in the future.
The Liberals have a national auto strategy. We’re already implementing it. We helped secure the first electric vehicle battery plant in Canada - in Windsor - bringing 2,500 jobs plus a growing supply chain to secure our position in the industry’s next generation.
6) Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
Liberal leader and Prime Minister Mark Carney was the United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance. Green Peace has written about him: “He has a long-standing concern over climate change.”
A Liberal government would maintain the industrial carbon tax on the biggest industrial polluters to ensure they contribute their fair share to lowering emissions.
We would also offer financial incentives, not penalties, to help consumers afford more energy-efficient appliances, electric cars and better home insulation. And we would use nature-based climate solutions, like planting trees, that deliver measurable carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits while supporting community resilience. We don’t have to choose between fighting climate change and growing economy. We can invest in innovative clean energy and energy efficiency.
7) How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
A Liberal government would oversee building 500,000 affordable starter homes a year, like the government did for returning World War Two veterans and their families. We would provide financing and incentives for prefabricated home builders, affordable home builders, multi-residential housing, rental housing and converting existing structures into affordable housing. We would also eliminate the GST for first-time home buyers, saving families up to $50,000.
Brian Masse- Canada's New Democrats (incumbent)
1) Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
I am running for re-election because I want to continue fighting for our city, our province, and our country, Canada. I have dedicated my life to serving the constituents of this great city. Our city is facing a crucial moment, our largest industry is being attacked by Trump’s unjust trade war, putting the livelihoods of the workers who have been the backbone of the North American auto industry at risk. Families are anxious about their paychecks while dealing with the rising cost of living. Windsor needs the fighter they know, not another Liberal backbencher.
If I have the honour of being re-elected, I will continue the fight for a strategy that will not only protect workers impacted by the tariffs but strengthen our industries for the future. I want to continue the fight to protect and expand on the universal pharmacare and dental care programs we have delivered for you. I want to continue the fight for a government that works with labour. I want to continue the fight for a truly protected Ojibway National Urban Park. I want to continue to bring the voices of my constituents to Ottawa, to Washington, and beyond.
2) What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
Our plan to make life more affordable for Canadians begins by tackling the high cost of essentials head-on. We’ll remove the GST from essential items like grocery store meals, diapers, strollers, and monthly bills — including cell, internet, and heating, saving a typical family around $450 a year.
To stop corporate grocery stores from driving up food prices, we’ll cap the cost of key grocery items and enforce a mandatory Grocery Code of Conduct to protect workers and consumers. We would also empower the Competition Bureau to be able to crack down and keep prices fair.
We’ll also take the GST off Canadian-made vehicles, and restore the EV incentives up to $10,000 on Canadian-built electric vehicles, saving buyers even more while supporting good local jobs.
We’ll help people keep more of their pay by raising the basic personal amount, saving working and middle-class individuals up to $505, funded by making millionaires pay their fair share. To support those most in need, we’ll double the Canada Disability Benefit and increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement so no senior is left living in poverty. We’ll also build rent-controlled homes on public land to create more affordable housing.
Altogether, a typical family could save nearly $20,000 over five years under the NDP plan. These actions build on what we’ve already achieved, like our dental care plan helping over 1.5 million Canadians save around $1,300 a year and a national pharmacare plan that will save Canadians hundreds more. We’re committed to making life more affordable for you.
3) How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
The NDP understands that the crises of homelessness, mental health, and addiction are deeply connected, and that tackling them requires a comprehensive, compassionate, and people-first approach. We believe that free, universal mental health care is essential to building a healthier future, and we’re going to move in that direction by guaranteeing mental health care under the Canada Health Act. We’ll expand national pharmacare to provide free, prescribed mental health medications, and we’ll invest in provinces and territories to improve frontline services, with clear goals, transparency, and accountability. Everyone deserves timely access to mental health care, no matter their income or where they live.
We also know the toxic drug crisis must be treated like the public health emergency it is. That means listening to health experts, ensuring access to a safe supply to prevent overdoses, and providing on-demand treatment and recovery services when people are ready for help. We’ll invest in education, prevention, harm reduction, and recovery, so no one is left to struggle alone. And to address homelessness, we’ll build hundreds of thousands of rent-controlled, affordable, and supportive homes, while implementing a Renters’ Bill of Rights and requiring all levels of government to work together to end chronic homelessness. New Democrats believe in a Canada where everyone has access to the care they need and a safe place to call home.
4) 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.
Ottawa should offer far more support to border cities like ours that are tasked with border protection duties. The 2022 Ambassador Bridge Blockade showed how key the City of Windsor has been in keeping the daily operations of the border flowing, and the fact that the city is still bearing the costs of dealing with an international protest is unacceptable. This is why I have been loud in my calls for the federal government to reimburse the city.
The federal government has increasingly downloaded the responsibility for border safety at crossings to the municipality whereby costs incurred get borne by the city, at the cost of Windsor taxpayers. The recent permitting of further classes of hazardous materials to the Ambassador Bridge leaves the city in another precarious situation, wherein they must step in, without any federal plan or assistance, should there be an accident or incident involving hazardous materials transport at the crossings. Cities should not be burdened with federal downloading, and the City of Windsor is unfairly carrying this burden at the largest international crossing between Canada and the United States.
I will fight to ensure Windsor and other border cities get the federal funding they need to address the special additional costs associated with border issues.
5) How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
The government needs to step up for workers directly impacted by President Trump’s tariffs. That’s why we will make meaningful improvements to Employment Insurance (EI), so workers can count on livable benefits that actually cover the bills. We’ll eliminate the one-week waiting period. We’ll also raise the benefit rate above 55% to 66% and extend coverage to 50 weeks. Plus, we’ll make it easier for more people to qualify by lowering the threshold to a 360-hour standard and extending EI to contract and self-employed workers. We’ll also expand EI Work-Sharing programs to help prevent layoffs. We’ll make sure the funds collected from retaliatory tariffs will go directly to help workers in industries like auto, steel, and aluminum without delay. That will benefit workers right here in Windsor. To protect Canadian jobs, we’ll ban American companies from federal procurement contracts until the tariffs are removed and stop U.S. corporations from stripping Canadian plants.
We need a strategy that not only responds to Trump’s tariffs but also strengthens our industries for the long term. For auto workers, we must increase demand and create jobs. Our "Build Canadian, Buy Canadian" policy will require federal agencies like Canada Post and the RCMP to buy Canadian-made vehicles. We’ll also reinstate and double electric vehicle (EV) incentives for Windsor-built cars like the Chrysler Pacifica and remove the GST from Canadian-made vehicles. This helps create demand for Canadian vehicles and creates local jobs.
We would safeguard jobs through strategic investments. We would launch a massive building plan focusing on shovel-ready infrastructure projects, roads, bridges, transit, and health facilities, all built with Canadian materials, creating unionized jobs. We would also build an East-West clean energy grid with Canadian-made products, creating thousands of green jobs. To create construction jobs, we would rescue at-risk housing projects. Lastly, we’ll make sure more of our work happens here at home by pushing for value-added processing in Canada so we’re not just shipping raw materials out. We’ll also protect industries like hydro, minerals, and our cultural sectors, and make sure Indigenous and Charter rights are never up for negotiation in trade deals.
6) Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
With Trump’s trade threats and a worsening climate crisis, Canadians are already facing rising costs, and it’s clear that bold action is needed. Now that the consumer carbon tax is gone, the NDP will focus on practical solutions that lower emissions while protecting families from economic uncertainty. We’ll eliminate public subsidies and tax breaks for oil and gas companies, saving $18 billion over the next 10 years, and redirect that money to home retrofits. Our plan includes retrofitting 3.3 million homes, with free retrofits for 2.3 million low-income households, and grants or low-interest loans for 1 million more. This will help cut energy bills by up to $4,500 per year while supporting Canadian-made solutions like heat pumps and energy-efficient materials. This creates thousands of good union jobs in installation, auditing, and retrofitting, helping families save money and create jobs in local manufacturing.
We will also keep the industrial carbon price and emissions caps in place to ensure the largest polluters are held accountable while protecting workers through a just transition. A new Border Carbon Adjustment will be introduced to ensure foreign polluters don’t undercut Canadian industries, keeping our clean sectors like steel and cement competitive. By eliminating oil and gas subsidies, we’ll redirect funds directly into supporting families, rather than padding the profits of Big Oil CEOs. This approach tackles the climate crisis head-on, creates good-paying jobs, and ensures families are protected from the costs of both the climate crisis and Trump’s trade war.
7) How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
Ottawa must take bold, people-first action to address the housing crisis, and that starts by putting public resources to work for working and middle-class families, not just developers and speculators. For too long, federal policies have helped big developers build luxury rentals while first-time buyers and renters are left behind. That’s why New Democrats will use the financial power of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to offer low-interest, public-backed mortgages to help families afford their first home. We’ll exempt Canadian-made vehicles from the GST to help Canadians save and redirect public financing to support non-profit, co-op, and Indigenous-led housing projects through a new Community Housing Bank. And we’ll set aside 100% of suitable federal land to build over 100,000 rent-controlled homes by 2035, because homes should be for people, not profit.
While Ottawa must work with builders to get homes built, public funding should come with strong public outcomes. That’s why the NDP will replace the expiring Liberal Housing Accelerator Fund with a permanent $16 billion national housing strategy, including the Canadian Homes Transfer and Communities First Fund. Cities and provinces will access this funding by meeting clear requirements: building multi-unit and affordable housing faster, ending exclusionary zoning, freezing and cutting development charges, and adopting rent control. We’ll also invest in the infrastructure needed to support growth, like water, transit, and public services, while making sure at least 20% of new housing is non-market in every neighbourhood. And we’ll train over 100,000 skilled workers, including people affected by Donald Trump’s trade war, to ensure we have the workforce to build the homes Canadians need. Ottawa should absolutely play a leadership role, but it must be one that puts communities and affordability ahead of profits and speculation.
Louay Ahmad- Greeen Party of Canada
1) Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
As an admittedly young person running for office, I must confess that I decided to join the race because so little of my future is in my hands. Education is getting defunded and all my colleagues are worried that their programs are getting cut. Canadian material assistance was going towards the bombing of my family members in Lebanon and an ongoing genocide in Palestine. The climate crisis is destroying the planet in ways we can never hope to reverse. I'm not facing the brunt of these issues by any means, but I have the privilege and moral obligation to raise the voices of those who do. The youth, the foreigner, and the hypothetical descendant are just as worthy of the axiomatic human rights we possess ourselves.
2) What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
First and foremost, we aim to abolish the federal income tax on earnings $40,000 and below, which would return 50 billion dollars right back into our local economies. We support a Universal Basic Income of $2000 a month for each Canadian, which would alleviate poverty by 40% and subsequently reduce stress on social services. Additionally, we support free education, as education is objectively the best pathway to a greater standard of living and should not be behind a paywall. Finally, we recognize that public housing is not affordable, and seek to cap rent and mortgages on government-built houses to 30% of the average income.
3) How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
All three of these issues are byproducts of a worsening economy. The solution is not to overpolice, but to invest in preventative measures. Our social services must be bolstered by taxing the wealth of millionaires, billionaires, and corporations.
4) 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.
If Ottawa is willing to shoulder the burden of preventing annexation on Windsor, then Canada is metaphorically dead. I'm not pessimistic enough to think that scenario would come to be, however. The federal government should pay us back for the convoy protests. They should also foot the entire bill for border protection, as anything less is a signal to Trump that we're a target that'll go down without ado.
5) How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
If Universal Basic Income is too much, there's alternatives. A variant of the GST/HST holiday tax break is in order, for one. Stimulus checks from the pandemic era would also necessarily need to return if things become more dire.
6) Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
I still like the Carbon Tax and think it could be reimplemented if we offered more agricultural exemptions. After all, 8 in 10 Canadians made a net profit from these taxes when the rebates kicked in. Farmers didn't fall into that majority, unfortunately, but that's a matter that could have been easily rectified. Otherwise, we need massive investments in renewable and nuclear energy. The government should make an effort to partially subsidize the transition of traditional automobile makers to hybrid and electric vehicle producers.
7) How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
We can provide incentives, but real estate companies tend to evade a lot of taxes anyways. We should prioritize working with public agencies to build public housing. Those houses need to be priced in accordance with the cost of materials and services that went into them, rather than inflated market rates.
Joseph Markham- Communist Party of Canada
1) Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
For the past almost decade, I have been involved with advocacy, activism, and political organizing. Yet, year after year things have gotten harder for working people, with no respite in sight, no real, tangible, meaningful solutions. We see raising prices, declining real wages, more privatization, austerity like in Healthcare and Education, and record high corporate profits. That's why I am running in this election with the Communist Party of Canada, to offer working people a real alternative, to have a real say and voice, and for peace and prosperity, not more austerity and wars.
2) What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
We want to abolish the regressive HST/GST Taxes and eliminate taxes on incomes under $50,000 per year. We want to legislate, like Canada has done historically before, price controls on food, fuel, basic necessities and rent. Prosecute the big grocery chains for price-fixing schemes. Put food distribution monopolies (Sobeys, Loblaws, Metro, etc.) under public ownership and redistribute profits from skyrocketing food prices to consumers. Introduce a Guaranteed Annual Livable Income to replace sub-poverty provincial welfare and disability programs, securing health and dignity for those unable to work.
3) How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
Expropriate derelict or vacant properties and convert them into rent-geared-to-income social housing. We want to build more emergency and housing shelters and transitional housing to support those in immediate need. Enact a federal housing policy that recognizes housing as a fundamental human right and treats it as a public utility and carry out a massive program to build 2 million units of social housing across the country to create jobs and tackle the housing crisis. Ensure that no one pays more than 20% of their income on housing by implementing rent controls and rent rollbacks; extend rent control legislation to cover all rental units, including vacant ones. We want to expand medicare to include public mental health care while increasing overall funding to provinces for healthcare, social programs, and social housing. Decriminalize the use of substances, create a regulated, publicly managed safe supply, and reduce harmful, toxic supply, and expand funding to rehabilitation programs. Create Community Civilian Crisis Response Teams that are well-trained and funded for mental health and domestic incidents. Most importantly, however, we wish to invest in social, public programs and education, we want to see a creation of jobs, which is proven to be directly tied to mental health, substance use and crime.
4) 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.
The Federal government should pay the owed $900,000 immediately. Ottawa should be offering lots, full support to border cities and take on the costs for protection duties.
5) How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
Make Employment Insurance non-contributory and expand it to include all workers, including part-time workers and first-time job seekers, for the full duration of unemployment, at 90% of previous earnings (or the average wage). Ban evictions, mortgage foreclosures, and utility cut-offs due to unemployment, strikes, or lockouts. Put key sectors of the economy under public ownership and democratic control to provide good jobs and ensure that profits are reinvested into public needs. Implement public ownership and democratic control of banks and insurance companies, energy and natural resources, telecommunications, and internet service providers. Implement public ownership and democratic control of Air Canada, Bombardier, the basic steel industry, and the Canadian operations of automakers. Build an electric car in Canada that is environmentally sustainable and affordable, both for domestic use and export. Restore fair trade deals, not free trade deals, like the U.S-Canada Auto-pact from the 1960s, remove the EV tariff on China, and seek new Auto-Pacts with others.
6) Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
We have long opposed the Carbon Tax. Replace cap-and-trade and carbon tax schemes with strict legal limits on pollution and hard caps on emissions, especially from industrial sources, to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Impose strong penalties for corporations that break emissions and pollution laws, including jail time for corporate executives. Invest heavily to create jobs through renewable energy and conservation programs and phase out coal-fired plants. Massively expand public transit. Build high-speed rail and create a publicly owned bus service, fueled by renewable energy, to replace and expand the service previously provided by Greyhound and other for-profit operators. Slash the huge carbon footprint related to the deployment of fighter-bomber jets, the naval fleet, and other military purposes by implementing a 75% cut to military spending.
7) How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
Ottawa should work directly with construction crews, the workers building the homes and rely mostly on public development, wherever possible. Establish land banks to preserve land for social housing, schools, hospitals, parks, and public works while preventing developers from inflating housing prices and rents for profit. enact legislation to give municipalities the right of first refusal (pre-emption rights) across the country to develop new units of social housing. Re-establish low-interest loans to cities and towns, and facilitate municipal land banking for public development.
Harb Gill- Conservative Party of Canada
1) Why did you decide to run for Member of Parliament?
I decided to run for Member of Parliament because after 29 years of public service as a police officer, I have seen our community’s challenges up close. I have stood on the front lines, working with regular families, solving real problems, and earning their trust. I had the privilege and opportunity to serve as a police officer—now, I’m seeking the privilege to serve you as your local Member of Parliament.
Windsor-Essex is my home. I’ve lived here for nearly three decades, raised my family here, and faced the same everyday realities that so many Canadians do—rising costs, long waits for healthcare, safety concerns, and shrinking opportunities for our kids.
I’m a husband, a father, and someone who believes in practical leadership, honest work, and putting people first. I want to bring real-world experience, common sense, and a strong local voice to Ottawa. It’s time for change—and I’m ready to lead it.
2) What will your party do to address the rising cost of living?
The Conservative Party, under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership, is offering a clear, common-sense plan to tackle the rising cost of living and bring relief to everyday Canadians. First, we’ll make housing more affordable by removing the GST on new homes under $1.3 million—not just for first-time buyers, but for everyone. We’ll also reward municipalities that lower development fees and cut red tape, so builders can get shovels in the ground faster and increase the housing supply.
We’re going to let Canadians keep more of what they earn. That means cutting the lowest federal income tax bracket from 15 per cent to 12.75 per cent, saving the average worker hundreds of dollars a year. For seniors who choose to keep working, we’ll raise the tax exemption threshold, extend RRSP withdrawal age limits to 73, and protect the right to retire at 65. We’ll also increase the TFSA contribution limits when Canadians invest in Canadian businesses—because we believe in building a stronger economy from within.
To lower the cost of living, we’ll axe the carbon tax. It’s making everything more expensive—gas, groceries, home heating—and punishing farmers, truckers, and regular families who are just trying to get by. At the same time, we’ll fast-track energy and resource projects by removing unnecessary delays and regulation, while building a national energy corridor to move Canadian resources efficiently and responsibly.
Finally, we’ll bring some much-needed fiscal responsibility to Ottawa. That means ending inflationary deficits that drive up interest rates and cutting back on wasteful government contracts and consultants. We’ll make sure our tax dollars go toward real priorities—not political gimmicks as the former Liberal Finance Minister herself accused her own party of doing.
In short, we’re going to bring home lower taxes, more homes, affordable energy, and a government that respects your hard-earned money. That’s our plan to make life more affordable—for everyone.
3) How would your party address the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and addiction?
The Conservative Party of Canada recognizes that homelessness, mental health struggles, and addiction are deeply connected and require a coordinated, compassionate, and results-driven approach.
To begin with, we will address the critical shortage of addiction recovery and mental health treatment spaces by building 50,000 treatment beds across Canada. These beds will help Canadians suffering from addiction and mental illness access timely, structured, and supportive care giving them a real chance at recovery and reintegration into society.
We are also committed to shifting the focus away from failed policies that enable addiction and toward treatment-based recovery programs. We believe Canadians deserve more than just survival—they deserve the opportunity to get better. This means redirecting funding from taxpayer-funded drug supply programs toward services that promote rehabilitation, housing stability, and long-term health outcomes.
When it comes to homelessness, our strategy is to get more homes built faster. By cutting red tape and tying federal infrastructure funding to housing outcomes, we will incentivize cities to build affordable, supportive housing and reduce zoning barriers that drive up costs and slow down construction. Stable housing, combined with access to mental health and addiction support, is key to breaking the cycle of homelessness.
In addition, we will ensure provinces and communities have the tools and federal backing to expand community-based mental health services, particularly for youth and at-risk populations, so that early intervention is possible before crises escalate.
In short, we will tackle these crises by restoring treatment, accountability, and compassion—and by delivering results, not just rhetoric.
4) 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.
To properly support border cities like Windsor, Ottawa must do more than just acknowledge their strategic importance—it must back that up with real action and funding.
Beyond that, Ottawa needs to recognize that protecting our international borders is a federal responsibility. Border cities shouldn't be left holding the bag for policing and emergency response at crossings that serve the entire country.
With a Conservative government and a local Conservative MP as a representative to advocate for Windsor, these issues would be brought forth to the table and be addressed.
This is about fairness, respect, and partnership. If Windsor is expected to protect Canada's economic lifeline, then Canada must stand behind Windsor—with real support, not just lip service.
5) How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
To support Canadian workers impacted by U.S. tariffs, the federal government needs to take decisive action that both addresses immediate needs and strengthens our long-term economic resilience.
First, we should focus on immediate relief for consumers and workers. One effective way to do this is by eliminating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on new Canadian-made vehicles. This policy would make Canadian cars more affordable, supporting the auto industry and protecting jobs in communities where this sector is crucial to the local economy.
Additionally, we should create a ‘Keep Canadians Working Fund’—a temporary loan and credit program designed to help businesses impacted by tariffs. This fund would enable companies to maintain operations and keep workers employed despite the challenges posed by international trade barriers.
The federal government can also make strategic use of the $3 billion in federal funds set aside for economic and national security purposes. This money should be directed to communities and industries that are most affected by the tariffs, providing targeted relief to ensure they can weather the storm and remain competitive.
Lastly, we must ensure that our trade policies are fair and work in the best interests of Canadian workers. The government should advocate for stronger, more reciprocal trade agreements that protect our industries and safeguard Canadian jobs from unfair foreign policies.
By taking these steps, we can ensure that Canadian workers aren’t left behind and that we continue to build a strong, self-sufficient economy, even in the face of external challenges.
6) How do you think the federal government should support workers impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs?
A future Conservative government will take immediate action to support Canadian workers impacted by U.S. tariffs. First, we will push for the suspension of these tariffs and begin a full renegotiation of the CUSMA deal to secure fairer terms for Canadian industries. We will also eliminate the GST on new Canadian-made boost domestic demand and protect auto sector jobs. To help businesses deal with trade-related disruptions, we will launch the Keep Canadians Working Fund—a temporary loan and credit program designed to keep people employed and operations running. In addition, we will unlock $3 billion in federal economic resilience funding to support communities most affected by global trade instability. And at home, we will eliminate interprovincial trade barriers to strengthen our internal economy and create more opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers. This is a practical, pro-worker plan that puts Canadian jobs and industries first.
7) Now that the carbon tax is dead, how do you think the federal government should proceed in lowering emissions?
Pierre Poilievre has made it clear that the carbon tax law has not yet been repealed, despite claims that it is no longer in effect. The current government still has the power to increase the carbon tax the day after election and continue to burden regular Canadians and businesses. Under a Conservative government, Poilievre is committed to completely eliminating the carbon tax, recognizing that it unfairly penalizes both consumers and industries. Instead of relying on taxes to reduce emissions, he advocates the use of smart technology, nuclear energy, and innovation to lower emissions without imposing additional costs. This includes expanding investment in clean technologies, like carbon capture and clean hydrogen, and rewarding industries that lower their emissions. Poilievre’s approach focuses on practical solutions and using our own resources to tackle climate change while promoting economic growth and keeping Canada’s industries competitive.
How can Ottawa encourage developers to build new and affordable homes? Should Ottawa work directly with developers?
Pierre Poilievre has outlined a clear approach to encourage the construction of new and affordable homes in Canada. A Conservative government would work directly with municipalities and developers, and the focus would be on creating the right conditions for housing development rather than micromanaging the process.
Key aspects of this plan include:
Reducing Red Tape: Poilievre advocates for cutting bureaucratic hurdles that delay housing development. He proposes that municipalities that expedite housing approvals and reduce unnecessary regulations should be rewarded with increased federal infrastructure funding. This would make it easier and faster for developers to build homes.
No GST on Homes Under $1.3 Million: To make homes more affordable, Poilievre proposes exempting homes under $1.3 million from GST. This would reduce the overall cost of purchasing a home, helping more Canadians afford a place to live, while fulfilling the dream of being a homeowner.
Incentivizing Municipalities: Poilievre has suggested a $50,000 cost reduction for developers from municipalities, which would be matched by a Conservative government as their commitment to reducing the cost of development. This would further lower the financial barriers to building new homes.
Repurposing Federal Buildings: Poilievre also proposes selling off underutilized federal buildings and repurposing them for affordable housing, thereby adding to the supply of usable housing units quickly.
By fostering a cooperative approach between federal, municipal governments, and the private sector, a Conservative government in Ottawa would stimulate the construction of affordable homes and make housing more accessible for regular Canadians.
Margaret Villamizar for the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada is also running in Windsor-West. WindsorNewsToday.ca did not receive responses from this candidate. If they respond at a later date their answers will be added to this post.