Windsor—Tecumseh

Windsor—Tecumseh covers the eastern portion of the City of Windsor and the adjacent Town of Tecumseh in southwestern Ontario. The riding had been held by NDP MPP Percy Hatfield since he won a 2013 by-election, continuing a long tradition of NDP representation in the Windsor area. In July 2021, Hatfield announced he would not seek re-election, saying it was time for new voices. With no incumbent running, Windsor—Tecumseh became an open contest for the first time in nearly a decade—and the Progressive Conservatives sensed an opportunity to flip a seat that had not elected a Conservative MPP in 93 years.

Candidates

Andrew Dowie (Progressive Conservative) — A licensed professional engineer who served as the Senior Engineer and Drainage Superintendent for the City of Windsor, responsible for policy research and the technical design and contract administration of construction projects. Dowie had served as a Tecumseh town councillor for Ward 1 since 2014 and was acclaimed in a redistributed ward in 2018. He was recognized as one of Leadership Windsor-Essex's 40 Leaders Under 40 in 2018.

Gemma Grey-Hall (NDP) — An award-winning Canadian executive, entrepreneur, and community leader who took up the NDP banner from the retiring Percy Hatfield. She was one of three women of colour running as candidates across Windsor-Essex ridings in 2022.

Gary Kaschak (Liberal) — A Windsor City Councillor representing Ward 8 who had previously worked for the federal government for 38 years, first with the Canada Revenue Agency and then with the Canada Border Services Agency. He campaigned on healthcare, long-term care, and childcare.

Other candidates included Steven Gifford (Ontario Party), Melissa Coulbeck (Green), Sophia Sevo (New Blue), David Sylvestre (None of the Above), and independents Laura Chesnik and Nick Babic and Giovanni Abati.

Local Issues

The most transformative development for Windsor—Tecumseh during the 2018–2022 term was the March 2022 announcement of the NextStar Energy electric vehicle battery plant, a joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution. The massive 4.23-million-square-foot facility, backed by billions in government investment, was expected to create up to 2,500 direct jobs and represented a major pivot for a region whose manufacturing base had been battered by the decline of the traditional automotive sector. The project was a significant campaign talking point for the Progressive Conservatives.

Urban sprawl and environmental protection were also top of mind for voters. Independent candidate Laura Chesnik and others highlighted the tension between outward expansion and preserving farmland, noting that empty properties within the city could be developed before consuming agricultural land. Residents voiced a desire for a greener economy and more community involvement in environmental planning.

The planned new mega-hospital for Windsor, a $2 billion acute care facility to be built on a 24-hectare site at County Road 42 and the 9th Concession, was another major local issue. While the project received $9.8 million in provincial planning funds in May 2022, some residents worried that replacing the existing downtown hospital campuses with a single suburban facility would leave the city's core without adequate hospital access.