Two federal party leaders will be in Windsor on Saturday just days ahead of the election.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh will be the first leader to make an appearance.
Singh told AM800’s Live and Local with Kyle Horner that he plans to attend Unifor’s rally to protect Canadian jobs, that will be held along Windsor’s riverfront Saturday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.
“I grew up in Windsor, I know what it’s like when we had the auto sector booming,” Singh said.
“I remember when some of the factories started shutting down. I remember the devastation in the community. I remember kids that I played soccer with, their parents and the kids reeling from the loss of jobs. It started off with loss of shifts, then entire lines shut down, entire factories shut down, I remember how tough that was. This is big for the region, and I know these tariffs are having already a horrible impact. I’m going to be there to stand shoulder to shoulder with the folks,” he added.
Windsor West was named one of eight key battleground ridings by CTV News earlier this month, with NDP incumbent candidate Brian Masse fighting for relection for the seat he’s held since 2002.
Singh says the NDP delivered for Canadians in a minority government.
“The Liberals would never have brought in dental care but for the fact that we forced them to do it, they would have never brought in pharmacare but for the fact that we forced them to do it,” Singh said.
“All the things that make Canada Canada really came when Canadians, people in Windsor, trusted New Democrats with their vote, use their power to send New Democrats to Ottawa, and we were able to force the government to deliver for people.”
Singh was previously in the city on March 27, when he stood in solidarity with local auto workers and union leaders.
Later Saturday, Liberal leader Mark Carney is expected to visit the region.
Carney will be in Windsor for a rally at 7 p.m. where he will deliver remarks and be joined by local candidates. The location is not disclosed on the Liberal party’s website, however residents can RSVP.
A representative of Windsor West candidate Richard Pollock tells CTV News Carney is coming to the city Saturday because the riding is in for an upset.
According to 338Canada.org, the riding is considered a “toss up” between the Liberals and the NDP.
The polling website indicates Saturday the vote projection is 36 per cent for the NDP, 34 per cent for the Liberals and 24 per cent for the Conservatives.
Carney was last in the city on March 26 - just one day before Singh made his campaign stop - also pledging his support to the Canadian auto industry.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was in the city on April 11 for a rally - his first stop in the Windsor-Essex region since the election was called.
Poilievre is set to hold a rally in Delta, B-C, before heading east to Sudbury, Ontario in the evening.
The federal election takes place on Monday, April 28. Voting will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. locally.
- by AM800’s Megan Delaurier, Dustin Coffman
