Gretzky makes final push for Windsor West ahead of election day

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On the eve of election day, New Democrat Lisa Gretzky made one final push to voters in Windsor West and urged residents to hit the polls.

At her Walker Road campaign headquarters on Wednesday, Gretzky reiterated her top priorities: affordability, improvements to the public health-care system, and investments in school infrastructure and education. Those are “the three main things that are coming up at the doors” while campaigning, she told reporters.

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“Those are the things I’ve been concentrating on for 10 years now through successive governments, and that’s something I’m going to continue to do,” she said.

The incumbent is seeking her fourth-straight victory in the riding, which she’s held since 2014. In 2022, she won with roughly 42 per cent of the vote. That year, only 33.6 per cent of eligible voters showed up at the polls.

To pay for her campaign commitments, she said, the NDP would invest money “wisely” and be “responsible” with the funds it spends.

“We are one of the wealthiest provinces in the country. It’s not always about trying to tax people more,” she said.

During a campaign stop in Oldcastle earlier that morning, Progressive Conservative Party Leader Doug Ford referred to Gretzky when he said Windsor West had an “MPP that sits there like a lump on a log and doesn’t say a word, doesn’t do anything.” Ford said Tony Francis, PC candidate for Windsor West, would give people in the city a voice.

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“When you can’t rely on facts and when you’re desperate, he’ll resort to personal attacks,” Gretzky said.

“I’ve tabled six pieces of legislation that all came out of the community here, all out of Windsor, inspired by Windsorites from talking to people, knocking on doors, answering the phones, having them come in for meetings.”

Also vying for Windsor West are Mark Dewdney (None of the Above Party), Tony Francis (Progressive Conservative Party), Matthew Giancola (Ontario Party), Joshua Griffin (New Blue Party), and Nick Kolasky (Green Party). The riding has no Liberal candidate.

tcampbell@postmedia.com

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