For the Member of Parliament for Essex, the early days of 2025 are facing political uncertainty.
That’s according to Conservative Chris Lewis who said that a federal election, while possible in the very near future, is not guaranteed.
“It’s not a slam dunk, politics can turn on a dime,” said Lewis as he addressed a room full of supporters Sunday afternoon at his constituency office in Essex.
Prior to mingling with local residents as part of his annual New Year’s Levee tradition, Lewis had time to meet with media and among other comments, said he is ready to seek another term in Ottawa.
“For the sake of Essex County, I hope an election is called.”
This week Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wass expected to stand in the House of Commons and call for a vote of non-confidence against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the governing Liberal party. However, Trudeau announced he was stepping down as Liberal leader and Prime Minister this past Monday.
Lewis said he is ready to serve a third term as the MP for Essex.
“It has only ever been about the people. That is why I went into politics. That is why I was a firefighter and a councillor in Kingsville.”
Asked by reporters what he considers to be the major issues for residents in Essex County, Lewis said that they are the same as what the Conservatives believe are nation-wide.
He said the four points are – Axe the Tax, Build Homes, Fix the Economy and Stop the Crime. He noted that 7-of-10 young people believe that they will never be able to afford a home.
“What really scares me, as chair of the Conservative Auto Caucus is local jobs,” Lewis told reporters. “We are walking past opportunities.”
Windsor-Essex continues to have the highest unemployment in Canada, at around 8.8 percent.
“I get if from local mayors. We have homeless, drug addicts quite frankly, on our street benches on the Greenway (trail system) across the county.”
Lewis also touched upon the possible 25 percent tariffs U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is threatening Canadians with and said that if Poilievre does become the next Prime Minister that there will be a united front when it comes to the Canadian economy and sovereignty.
“In order to build relationships, you can’t be weak. The Prime Minister is weak,” said Lewis of Trudeau.
Lewis was first elected in 2019, taking 41 percent of the vote, ahead of incumbent NDP Tracey Ramsey. He defeated Ramsey again in 2021.
“What excites me for 2025 is the opportunity now to be in government and actually be able to bring results to the folks of Essex County.”
Essex MP Chris Lewis holds New Year’s Levee, set to seek another term
By Fred Groves
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