Middlesex--London

Middlesex--London is a predominantly rural and small-town riding in southwestern Ontario, stretching across Middlesex County from the outskirts of London westward toward Lake Huron. The riding was created through the 2022 redistribution, combining portions of the former Lambton--Kent--Middlesex and Elgin--Middlesex--London ridings. Its communities include Strathroy-Caradoc, Lucan Biddulph, Middlesex Centre, and several smaller municipalities. The agricultural economy, anchored by livestock, grain, and specialty crop production, defines the riding's character.

Candidates

Lianne Rood (Conservative) is a three-term MP, first elected in 2019 in the predecessor riding of Lambton--Kent--Middlesex and re-elected in 2021 and 2025. Raised on a 1,000-acre vegetable farm near Grand Bend, she comes from a third-generation farming family and remains actively involved in the potato business with her brother. She holds an Honours Bachelor degree in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Windsor and spent six years as a political staffer in Ottawa during the Stephen Harper government, where she assisted Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in developing farm marketing legislation. She has served as the Conservative shadow minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Eastern, Central and Southern Ontario.

Kent Keenan (Liberal) holds a BA in French and Political Science from Western University and an MBA from Queen's University. His career includes a posting at the Canadian embassy in Beijing and work in the airline industry. A longtime volunteer and advocate for people with disabilities, Keenan focused his campaign on healthcare credential recognition, immigration policy, and rural infrastructure.

Taylor McIntosh (NDP) is a child and youth worker at the Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex with over a decade of experience working with vulnerable populations across child welfare, disability services, and child treatment. A young mother and labour activist, she ran on a platform of rural infrastructure investment, affordable childcare, and climate solutions.

Jim Johnston (Green Party), Cynthia Workman (People's Party - PPC), and Shawn Cartlidge (United Party of Canada) also stood as candidates in the riding.

About the Riding

Middlesex--London is defined by its agricultural heritage. The flat, fertile farmland of Middlesex County supports a diverse mix of operations: cash crops including corn, soybeans, and wheat; livestock including cattle, hogs, and poultry; and specialty agriculture such as ginseng and tobacco. Strathroy-Caradoc, the riding's largest municipality, has historically been associated with the turkey industry and is home to major poultry hatching and processing operations. The town also supports automotive parts manufacturing and food processing.

Smaller communities such as Lucan, Parkhill, Ailsa Craig, and Glencoe serve as service centres for the surrounding agricultural areas. Many residents commute to London for employment in healthcare, education, and manufacturing, giving the riding a dual character as both a farming district and a bedroom community for the city.

In 2025, US tariff threats were a visceral concern for farmers and agribusinesses that depend on cross-border trade in grain, livestock, and processed food products. Rural healthcare access was a persistent issue, with physician shortages, hospital closures, and long emergency room wait times affecting communities across the riding. Broadband internet connectivity remained uneven, limiting opportunities for home-based businesses and remote workers. The rising cost of farm inputs, property taxes, and housing rounded out the concerns of a riding where agricultural sustainability and rural community viability were at the forefront of the election conversation.