Job security amidst the ongoing trade war was top of mind for Liberal candidate Richard Pollock at his Sunday morning campaign launch.
“This is a moment in time that we’ll never see again in our country,” he said.
“The threat the United States poses to Windsor-Essex and Canada. Our jobs, our families, our way of life, our sovereignty are all at stake. That’s what motivated me to run.”
Pollock is the Liberal Party candidate for Windsor West, a seat held by NDP’s Brian Masse since 2002. This is Pollock’s third time vying for the riding’s seat for the Liberals against Masse, having previously run in the riding in 2002 and 2004.
At the doorsteps, Pollock told CBC News concerns around jobs is the only pressing issue.
“Job security starts with showing that we’re a sovereign nation. We have lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization. We will be vindicated at that stage. But until then, our message is really to our American neighbours, show them who we are,” he said.
Pollock said the impacted stock market, job losses in America, and the Congress will “take care of” Donald Trump.
“The more people that vote, the stronger the message we send to the United States. That’s what this election is about… Mark Carney inspired me to run. Windsor West needs Mark Carney.”
Pollock said Carney and the party are listening to Windsor which is “ground zero” in the “economic trade war against the United States”.
“Really and truly, everything will be decided in Windsor,” he said.
Beyond job security, Pollock said people in the community are concerned about housing.
“It’s going to hurt, but I feel for our residents and our constituents in Windsor West and across the city. They’re anxious. I feel that as well. I see that amongst my own family. So that inspires me to work on this issue, the only issue that’s important.”
Pollock urges voters to use “common sense” this election and choose the leader wisely in the escalating trade war.
Harb Gill, the Conservative candidate for Windsor West, also has said that he’ll do everything he can to help out local automotive workers feeling the effects of Trump’s tariffs.
Gill said he is hearing concerns about tariffs but believes that the community is “extremely resilient.”
“We’ve always been that way. No matter how hard you kick us, we always get up, dust off and go back to work,” he said.
At his campaign launch late last month Masse suggested he was “a fighter” and said the stakes are different in this election.
“And I hear it on the doorstep that people do have anxiety about what’s taking place now,” he said.
Windsor West is home to the Ambassador Bridge, University of Windsor, proposed Ojibway National Urban Park and the soon-to-be-open Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Candidates have until April 7 to declare whether they’re running. Here are the other three candidates who have announced their intentions so far:
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Louay Ahmad — Green Party of Canada.
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Jacob Bezaire — People’s Party of Canada.
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Joey Markham — Communist Party of Canada.
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Margaret Villamizar — Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada.
