Essex

Essex is a federal riding in the southwestern tip of Ontario, covering much of Essex County south and east of the city of Windsor. The riding includes the municipalities of LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Essex, and the western and central portions of Lakeshore, as well as Leamington. It stretches from the Detroit River shore at Amherstburg south and east along the Lake Erie coastline to Point Pelee, encompassing some of Canada's southernmost territory.

Candidates

Jeff Watson (Conservative) — Watson was the incumbent MP, first elected in Essex in 2004. Born in Windsor, he studied history and political science at the University of Windsor before working on the assembly line at the Trim Division of Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant for seven years. He was designated by the Library of Parliament as the first autoworker elected to the Parliament of Canada. By 2011, he was seeking his fourth consecutive term.

Taras Natyshak (NDP) — Natyshak was the NDP candidate in Essex for the 2011 federal election. He had previously run as the NDP federal candidate in the riding in 2006 and 2008. A labour organizer by profession, he served as the Director of Training for the Labourers' International Union of North America, Local 625. He would later win the provincial Essex seat in the Ontario election held later in 2011.

Nelson Santos (Liberal) — Santos was the Liberal candidate in Essex for the 2011 election.

Cora Carriveau (Green Party) — Carriveau was the Green Party candidate in Essex.

Enver Villamizar ran for the Marxist-Leninist Party.

About the Riding

Essex sits at the extreme southwestern point of Ontario, where the climate is among the mildest in Canada. This geographic advantage has made the riding home to one of the country's largest concentrations of greenhouse operations, producing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and other vegetables year-round. Leamington, known as the Tomato Capital of Canada, was home to the H.J. Heinz processing plant, a major local employer that had operated since 1908. Kingsville and the surrounding area also supported significant greenhouse agriculture. The riding's economy was closely tied to the broader Windsor-Essex automotive corridor, with many residents employed at Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant and related parts suppliers across the river in Windsor. The 2008-2009 recession hit the region hard, with significant manufacturing job losses. Amherstburg, a historic town on the Detroit River, contributed heritage tourism and a connection to War of 1812 history at Fort Malden. Point Pelee National Park, Canada's southernmost point of mainland, drew nature enthusiasts and birders. The Lake Erie shoreline supported fishing and seasonal recreation. By 2011, key local issues included the recovery of the auto sector, the health of the greenhouse agriculture industry, cross-border trade with the United States, and the proposed new Detroit River International Crossing (later named the Gordie Howe International Bridge).