CTV News is projecting Progressive Conservative Anthony Leardi has been re-elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Essex. Leardi, a lawyer and former Deputy Mayor of Amherstburg, says his top priority when he returns to Queen’s Park will be protecting Ontario workers. “We’re going to be strong. We’re going to show strength,” he said. “I believe that Premier Doug Ford has already done that, and he will continue to do that.” He says the government will push for negotiations instead of escalating trade disputes. “We will show strength to the Americans, and we will go back to the negotiating table,” Leardi said. “We don’t want a tariff war. They don’t want a tariff war. We want to negotiate. We are best friends. We are best allies, and we are the number one purchaser for 17 American states. We can work this out.” The Ontario PC Party highlights Leardi’s community involvement with organizations such as the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic and the Essex County Library Board. He resides in Amherstburg with his wife Jackie and their three children. Leardi says he prides himself on being available to the people in his riding. “The taxpayers in this riding know they can come out to my coffee houses. They know they can call me, they know they can email me, and they’ll always get a response,” he said. “I would hope that made some of the difference.” Looking ahead, Leardi says the next four years will focus on expanding the manufacturing sector and training more skilled workers. “The people of Essex can look forward to a strong majority government that has a very good focus on expanding the manufacturing sector,” he said. “We’re going to continue to train more skilled workers who are going to build the projects, the roads, the highways, and the homes for the people of Ontario.” He pointed to endorsements from trade unions, including LiUNA and the Carpenters and Joiners Union. “I’m proudly wearing the Carpenters and Joiners Union symbol on my lapel tonight,” Leardi said. “I want to thank them for their support, and I want them to know that they will have my support.” Leardi secured 55.5 per cent of the vote, with a total of 30,785 votes, well ahead of NDP candidate Rachael Mills, who finished second with 12,047 votes (21.7 per cent). Here are the full election results for Essex: In 2022, candidates competed for a vacant seat after NDP representative Taras Natyshak retired from politics. Leardi flipped Essex from orange to blue, securing 51.1 per cent of the vote in that election. Voter turnout in the riding was 47.2 per cent that year. This marked the first time Essex had been represented by a Conservative MPP since the riding was reconfigured in 1999. More provincial election information can also be found on the official Elections Ontario website.More provincial election information can also be found on the official Elections Ontario website.
