Anthony Leardi is going back to Queen’s Park.
Leardi, the Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate for the riding of Essex, won re-election as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in last Thursday’s Ontario election. He will be part of a PC majority government under leader Doug Ford, with Ford gaining his third consecutive majority.
For Leardi, it is his second provincial election win after first being elected in June 2022. His prior political experience was as an Amherstburg councillor (2000-03) and then as deputy mayor (2003-06).
After entering his election night victory party at Sutton Creek Golf Club in McGregor, Leardi thanked the voters for electing him to a second term as MPP. He also expressed his gratitude to all of his volunteers, donors and supporters, with his family getting special recognition. He pointed out public life demands a lot from families.
Of his wife Jackie, Leardi said “she is a strong woman. I am lucky to have her.”
Leardi also thanked his opponents for running what he said were respectful campaigns.
The PC candidate finished with an unofficial total of 30,785 votes (55.46%) with NDP candidate Rachael Mills finishing second with 12,047 votes (21.7%). Liberal candidate Tamara Stomp came in third place with 8,707 votes (15.69%). Green Party candidate Stephen Higgins received 1,282 votes (2.31%).
Other results included Travis Jacques of the Ontario Party getting an unofficial total of 1,131 votes (2.04%), Brigitte Belton of the New Blue Party receiving 882 votes (1.59%), Kevin Linfield of the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party got 469 votes (0.84%) while independent candidate William Szabo Verzoc received 204 votes (0.37%).
The tariff issue was top-of-mind for Leardi, stating U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening the livelihood of Ontarians with a tariff war.
“The next few years are going to be a roller coaster,” Leardi predicted, though backed Ford as the person to guide the province through it. The mandate voters gave Ford and the Progressive Conservative party will last longer than Trump’s term as president, he added.
Vowing that the newly elected government will protect the province and its jobs, said he is “very happy” to win re-election and that Ford is the leader to guide the province, protect workers and businesses and show strength.
“We are going to be strong. We’re going to show strength,” Leardi told reporters Thursday night. “We will show strength to the Americans and we will go back to the negotiating table. We don’t want a tariff war. They don’t want a tariff war. We are best friends.”
Beyond the tariff issue, Leardi said the now-previous PC government has made an impact on the manufacturing sector. He said $45 billion of investments have been made in Ontario since Ford became premier.
“I think people strongly recognize the big difference in the manufacturing sector,” said Leardi.
Supporting tradespeople and increasing the number of people in skilled trades will be a continued focus, he added. Leardi stated he had support of several unions during this election campaign and he wants to continue supporting them.
Leardi said he has been accessible, noting he has invited people to his coffee houses and other events.
“They know they can call me, they can e-mail me and they’ll always get a response,” he said. “I hope that made some sort of difference.”
Voter turnout in the Essex riding was 50.88 per cent, according to Elections Ontario. Province-wide, voter turnout is roughly 45.5 per cent.
Leardi wins re-election as Essex MPP
By Ron Giofu
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