Elgin—Middlesex—London

Elgin—Middlesex—London is a largely rural riding in southwestern Ontario that includes the City of St. Thomas, the County of Elgin, the Municipality of Thames Centre in Middlesex County, and a portion of the City of London south of Highway 401. The seat had been held by Progressive Conservative Jeff Yurek since 2011, but Yurek announced in January 2022 that he would not seek re-election and would resign his seat effective the end of February. A pharmacist by training, Yurek had held several cabinet posts under Premier Ford, including Minister of Transportation and Minister of the Environment. His departure created an open race in a riding that had traditionally leaned Conservative.

Candidates

Rob Flack (Progressive Conservative) — Flack is a University of Guelph graduate who spent nearly 43 years at Masterfeeds Inc., a London-based national animal nutrition company. He became the company’s youngest-ever president and CEO in 1993 and grew it from a primarily Ontario-based business into a national operation. Flack also served as chair and president of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 2018 and 2019, and operates a family cattle farm.

Andy Kroeker (NDP) — Kroeker served as executive director of the West Elgin Community Health Centre for twelve years. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Carleton University and a Master in Public Policy and Administration with a focus on environmental issues. He volunteered on the board of the Thames Talbot Land Trust and served on the City of London’s Environmental and Ecological Planning Advisory Committee.

Heather Jackson (Liberal) — Jackson is the former mayor of St. Thomas, where she first joined city council at age 27 and was elected mayor seven years later, ultimately serving two terms. She had 15 years of experience on St. Thomas council before losing her bid for a third mayoral term to Joe Preston in 2018. She later worked as associate director of development at the United Way Elgin Middlesex.

Matt Millar (New Blue Party), Amanda Stark (Green Party), Brigitte Belton (Ontario Party), Dave Plumb (Freedom Party), and Malichi Malé (Consensus Ontario) also ran in the riding.

Local Issues

Healthcare access was a central concern across the riding. St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital served as the primary medical hub for a large rural catchment area, and residents expressed frustration over doctor shortages, emergency room wait times, and limited specialist services. The pandemic intensified these pressures and highlighted gaps in long-term care capacity.

The riding’s agricultural economy faced ongoing challenges related to trade uncertainty and input costs. Livestock and cash crop operations remained important employers, and farmers sought greater provincial support for infrastructure such as natural gas expansion and rural broadband connectivity. The absence of reliable high-speed internet in many parts of Elgin County became even more apparent during pandemic-era remote work and schooling.

Transportation infrastructure was also a local priority. Highway 401 runs through the riding, and commuters travelling between St. Thomas and London contended with congestion and limited public transit options. The region was also watching broader economic developments in southwestern Ontario, including large manufacturing investments in nearby communities, and residents hoped the riding would benefit from the region’s growing role in the electric vehicle supply chain.