By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The writ has dropped and voters in Chatham-Kent–Leamington will head to the polls April 28.
And for the first time in many years, C-K–L residents will be casting their ballots to elect a new Member of Parliament in only one riding.
Following the last election in 2021, which saw the Liberals elected to a minority government, federal riding boundaries were redrawn.
The Lambton–Kent–Middlesex riding was eliminated, and to the north of Chatham-Kent, a new riding titled Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong has been created to include voters from Walpole Island First Nation.
The redrawn C-K–L boundary, which follows municipal/county boundaries, will see voters in Wallaceburg, Dresden, Chatham, Leamington, Moraviantown and all parts in between cast ballots for the same slate of candidates.
According to Elections Canada, only one C-K-L candidate has officially declared as of press time March 28. Conservative incumbent Dave Epp is throwing his hat in the ring once again.
However, Seamus Fleming has said he will run for the New Democratic Party, and People’s Party of Canada candidate Trevor Lee will also run.
Neither the Liberals or the Green Party had announced at the time this paper went to press.
A full slate of who is running to become the next MP will be available April 9.
Called by Prime Minister Mark Carney March 23, numerous polls indicate that voter interest is high this year, growing day by day, as Canadians grapple with uncertainty in the face of on-again, off-again tariffs imposed against Canada by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Numerous polls currently peg the Conservatives and Liberals as being neck and neck in what will likely be the tightest race in decades.
