Oxford

Oxford is a predominantly rural riding in southwestern Ontario encompassing the City of Woodstock, the towns of Ingersoll and Tillsonburg, and several surrounding townships. Progressive Conservative Ernie Hardeman had held the seat since 1995, making him one of the longest-serving MPPs in the legislature. A former Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs under both Mike Harris and Doug Ford, Hardeman was seeking his eighth consecutive term in a riding that had remained solidly Conservative for decades.

The riding blends agricultural heritage with a growing manufacturing sector. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada operates a major plant in Woodstock producing RAV4 and RAV4 hybrid vehicles, while the CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll was undergoing a significant transition in 2022, retooling from Chevrolet Equinox production to become General Motors Canada’s first full-scale commercial electric vehicle facility for BrightDrop delivery vans.

Candidates

Ernie Hardeman (Progressive Conservative) — First elected in 1995, Hardeman served as Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from 2018 to 2021 before being replaced in a cabinet shuffle. Before entering provincial politics, he owned and operated Hardeman Feed Ltd. in Salford and served as Mayor of the Township of South-West Oxford from 1988 to 1994. He also served as Warden of Oxford County.

Lindsay Wilson (NDP) — Wilson was an economic development professional and lifelong Oxford County resident. She served as a board member for the Southwestern Ontario Tourism Corporation and was a former board member of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce.

Mary Holmes (Liberal) — Holmes was a lifelong educator who had taught at St. Mary’s High School in Woodstock beginning in 1988, later becoming a Program Coordinator for the London District Catholic School Board. She also served as a faculty advisor at Western University and a professor at Fanshawe College.

Karl Toews (Ontario Party), Cheryle Rose Baker (Green Party), and Connie Oldenburger (New Blue Party) also ran.

Local Issues

Agriculture and farmland protection were central concerns in Oxford, a riding home to some of Ontario’s most productive agricultural land. The provincial government’s Bill 109, the More Homes for Everyone Act, drew criticism from the farming community over concerns that it could circumvent local land-use planning policies and put prime farmland at risk of development. The Wellington Federation of Agriculture hosted candidate debates focusing on planning policy, supply chains, risk management programs, and soil health.

Rural broadband access remained a persistent issue. In April 2022, the federal and provincial governments announced nearly $500,000 in investment to bring high-speed internet to more than 200 homes, farms, and businesses in Oxford County through the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) partnership. SWIFT committed a combined $10.2 million to connect over 1,700 underserved properties in the county.

The transition at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll also raised questions about the future of manufacturing employment in the region. Production of the Chevrolet Equinox ceased in April 2022, and the plant remained closed for months while it retooled for electric vehicle production, supported by a $259-million federal investment. Workers and residents watched closely to see how the shift to EV manufacturing would affect local jobs and the broader regional economy.