Most Canadians are voting in new ridings in Monday’s federal election, including us in Elgin-St. Thomas-London South.
The boundary change from Elgin-Middlesex-London (EML) was far less drastic than first proposed, which saw the elimination of Thames Centre from the riding.
The 93,164 eligible voters in the riding are now drawn from Aylmer, Bayham, Central Elgin, Dutton/Dunwich, London, Malahide, Southwold, St. Thomas, through to West Elgin.
Elgin-St. Thomas-London South is home to a strong agricultural sector, thriving small businesses, and a growing tourism industry fueled by its proximity to Lake Erie, its trails, and historic sites. Residents enjoy a mix of country charm and modern amenities, with access to local markets, artisan shops, and recreational opportunities.
Although EML had traditionally been a “Blue” riding, the first 2 terms saw Liberal Gar Knutson as the local MP from 1997-2004. Conservative Joe Preston would go on to win the seat from 2004-2015, before fellow Conservative and outgoing MP, Karen Vecchio was elected.
Now with a new riding on our hands and our incumbent not seeking reelection, four candidates are vying to represent Elgin-St. Thomas-London South as our Member of Parliment. They include Stephen R. Campbell, People’s Party of Canada; David Goodwin, Liberal Party of Canada; Andrew Lawton, Conservative Party of Canada and Paul Pighin, New Democratic Party.
myFM sat down with each of your candidates and features highlighting their party platforms and local priorities can be found here.
Written by: K. Freeman
