Dilkens voices robocall for Poilievre rally, raising questions over political neutrality

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens has recorded a robocall endorsing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in the federal election. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru has more.

A robocall sent to Windsor residents Thursday evening is raising eyebrows — not because of the message, but because of the voice behind it.

The automated message, which invited residents to a campaign rally Friday evening for federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, was voiced by Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.

Joe McParland, a longtime Windsor resident, said he was at home around 5:30 p.m. Thursday when the call came through.

“This is Drew Dilkens calling, inviting you to join Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for a Canada First rally in Windsor on Friday,” the one-minute message said.

“Join Pierre Poilievre to hear about his Canada First plan to secure borders, lower taxes and stop crime and drugs, and bring home our jobs and money.”

McParland said he hung up midway through but was soon contacted by his neighbour who received the same message. Several others shared similar reports on social media.

“Somebody I know called that number back and it went to the Conservative Party campaign office,” he said in an interview.

McParland said his concern was not with the use of robocalls — a common campaign tactic — but with who recorded the message.

“I think it’s a bit distasteful,” he said.

“I don’t think the mayor of the city — it’s his position to be endorsing a candidate, because you have to work with whoever is elected.”

According to a Conservative Party spokesperson, the robocall was funded through campaign resources, and all privacy and election laws were followed.

The party also said an invitation was extended to the mayor to participate.

According to the mayor’s office, no city staff, funding or data were involved in producing or distributing the call.

Dilkens defended his participation in the same statement, saying Poilievre was the only federal leader who reached out to learn more about how Windsor’s economy is holding up.

“As our community is under economic attack by the U.S., Mr. Poilievre is the only leader running in this election who has taken the time to reach out and talk to me about the auto industry, tariffs and the future of our community,” Dilkens wrote in his statement.

Lydia Miljan, a political science professor at the University of Windsor, said there’s no law preventing a mayor from recording or endorsing political messages, but acknowledged the optics could be contentious.

“The mayor is a private citizen like everyone else,” she said.

“Even though municipal politics isn’t under party lines, political office holders still have political points of view — and it’s up to them to weigh the risks and benefits of expressing them.”

Miljan said she doesn’t expect long-term consequences, noting that federal and municipal governments are generally able to work together regardless of personal endorsements.

“It doesn’t serve their political purposes to hold grudges against a mayor who might have endorsed another campaign,” she said.

But for McParland, the issue remains one of perception — not partisanship.

“I would find it distasteful if he made a robocall on behalf of Mr. Singh or Mr. Carney or anyone,” he said.

“I think you need to stay neutral.”