Elgin--Middlesex--London

Elgin--Middlesex--London covers a large stretch of southwestern Ontario, linking the city of St. Thomas and the agricultural communities of Elgin County to the southern fringe of the City of London. The riding follows the north shore of Lake Erie through the towns of Aylmer, Port Stanley, and West Lorne before sweeping north to include portions of Middlesex County and Thames Centre. Small-town commerce, agriculture, and proximity to London's service economy shape daily life across the district.

Candidates

Karen Vecchio (Conservative) -- Raised on a turkey and hog farm in Sparta, Ontario, Vecchio owned and operated the Coffee Grind, a coffee shop in London, before joining the office of retiring Conservative MP Joe Preston as his executive assistant, a role she held for eleven years. Elected in 2015 as Preston's successor, she served as Shadow Minister for Families, Children and Social Development and as chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women during the previous Parliament.

Pam Armstrong (Liberal) -- Originally from Hamilton, Armstrong had raised her family in the Township of Malahide for fourteen years before entering the race. She worked as a financial advisor for two decades and later as a realtor, bringing private-sector experience to her campaign.

Bob Hargreaves (NDP) -- An Aylmer resident who became involved with the NDP as a volunteer during the 2018 Ontario provincial election, Hargreaves had a career in social services, working with the Children's Aid Society and serving as a director of a branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association before his retirement.

Ericha Hendel (Green Party) -- Hendel stood as the Green Party candidate in Elgin-Middlesex-London.

Donald Helkaa (People's Party) -- Helkaa ran under the People's Party of Canada banner in the riding.

Peter Redecop (Christian Heritage Party) and Richard Styve (Libertarian) also appeared on the ballot.

About the Riding

St. Thomas, the riding's largest urban centre with a population of approximately forty-two thousand, had spent years diversifying its economy after the closure of the Sterling Trucks and Ford assembly plants. The city's railway heritage -- it was once a major rail junction -- remained visible in its infrastructure, and newer employers including Magna International's auto parts operations provided manufacturing jobs. Aylmer and the surrounding townships retained a strong agricultural identity, with diversified crops, livestock operations, and a historic connection to tobacco farming.

The riding's Mennonite and Amish communities in the Aylmer area contributed a distinctive cultural presence to the region. Port Stanley, on the Lake Erie shoreline, served as a seasonal tourism destination with its beach, harbour, and heritage railway. Port Burwell, further east, offered a smaller-scale lakeside experience.

Health care access was a significant concern heading into the 2019 election, particularly in the riding's rural communities, where doctor shortages and long wait times for specialist referrals were common complaints. Rural infrastructure funding, support for southwestern Ontario's manufacturing base, and the transition facing communities dependent on traditional industries remained important themes. The riding had been held by the Conservatives or their predecessors for most of the previous two decades.