Photo Rights: Andrew Lawton Campaign
The April 28 federal election will be the first in the new riding of Elgin-St. Thomas-London South. And myFM is profiling all four candidates vying to represent constituents in Ottawa.
There is also no incumbent in this vote as former MP in Elgin-Middlesex-London Karen Vecchio advised last July she would not seek re-election.
The Conservative Party of Canada nominee is Andrew Lawton, a longtime talk radio broadcaster and journalist.
Lawton has a degree in political science and history from the University of Western Ontario and worked as a journalism instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University.
He was previously the managing editor of True North, before which he hosted a daily talk radio show on 980 CFPL in London. He has also written for Global News, the Washington Post, and the National Post.
For Lawton, this election is not just about joining the political conversation—it’s about turning a decade of commentary into action. “Running is really an opportunity to take all the things I’ve been talking about for the last ten years of my life and start putting them into action.”
Lawton notes that his media background gave him a front-row seat to what’s working—and what isn’t—across the country, an experience he says shaped his decision to run.
Representing a riding that spans rural areas, urban centres, and manufacturing hubs, Lawton says local economic vitality starts with “putting Canadian industry first.”
“We need to do everything we can to support our farmers, bolster Canadian manufacturing, and make sure that anything we can do here in Canada, we are doing.”
When it comes to recent developments in Canada-U.S. trade tensions and tariffs, Lawton blames the current Liberal government for leaving the country “without leadership” during a crucial time.
Lawton says one of his top priorities if elected would be working with local and provincial leaders—like St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston—to cut federal red tape and open the door to local growth.
In terms of healthcare promises, it’s an important focus for Lawton. He has spoken publicly in the past about his own experience with mental health, and he says it’s a priority he wants to champion in Ottawa.
“There’s still is this stigma that exists around the issue, which prevents people from seeking out help. We don’t even have a national suicide prevention strategy right now. That’s something I want to change.”
Unsurprisingly, Lawton opposes the federal carbon tax, arguing it’s disproportionately harmful to rural residents and ineffective in curbing emissions.
Adding that it has only added to the cost of living crisis we’re experiencing as a country.
When asked how he would represent constituents, Lawton says it comes down to listening. “If I’m elected, I’m a member of Parliament for everyone. Whether you vote for me or not, my job is to represent you—and I take that seriously.”
He also addressed outgoing MP Karen Vecchio’s decision not to endorse a successor.
And for voters still deciding ahead of the April 28 election, Lawton offers this:
Lawton notes “we have a phone number in our office. If anyone has any questions, call and put them to me directly because that’s the one thing I think about retail politics that is important- you have to be directly accountable to the people. So it’s an open invitation, if you have questions about what this election is about, come to me with them.”
You can hear our full interview with Andrew Lawton below.
Written by: K. Freeman
