Get to know your candidates: Chatham-Kent-Leamington

Get to know your federal election candidates in Chatham-Kent-Leamington.

Get to know your Chatham-Kent-Leamington candidates for the 2025 federal election. CTV Windsor has compiled elevator pitches and a question and answer with each candidate.

Dave Epp – Conservative Party of Canada

Epp declined the Elevator Pitch opportunity.

Tell us a little bit about your life?

Dave Epp is a common-sense conservative Member of Parliament representing the Southwestern Ontario riding of Chatham-Kent-Leamington.

Epp’s extensive business background includes being the Chair/Vice-Chair/Board member of Agricorp (Schedule III Provincial Agency), serving as Ontario/Quebec Regional Representative for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank; Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council; as well as having served as Chair of Ontario Process Vegetable Growers.

Since becoming a Member of Parliament in 2019, Epp has served as Deputy Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food as well as a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. Currently, he sits on the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development and is heavily involved in inland waters’ issues.

Epp continues to be a very strong and accessible local representative having held over 108 public meetings across his constituency in his first five years as MP.

Epp is a former single-engine pilot who enjoys fastball, hockey and golf; and loves a good choir. Epp has a post-secondary degree from CMU and has been married to his wife for over 40 years, Charlene, and they have four grown daughters.

How would you support or protect the auto industry, greenhouse sector, and Chatham-Kent farmers from the Trump tariffs?

No one can control what the U.S. President will do. We can only control what we do. So, we must first learn to better trade with ourselves – to remove interprovincial trade barriers and then build our trade relationships with other countries. The U.S. will always be our neighbour and our largest trading partner, but we need to reduce our reliance on this largely single relationship, in order to develop more leverage when our relationship is strained.

Name one thing the previous government got wrong. Name one thing the previous government got right.

There are many, many items for which I can find fault with the previous government, but largest would have to be the corruption and overspending - the waste of taxpayer dollars.

When the health transfers were increased to the provinces, the previous government demanded more accountability in how those dollars would be spent. I agree. I wish, however, they also had that same rigor when they refused to provide the documentation for the corruption in the Sustainable Technology Development Corporation (Green Slush Fund) and the myriads of other spending scandals.

If you have out of town guests coming to Chatham-Kent, what is your go-to tourist attraction to show them?

Point Pelee National Park – Canada’s most southerly point on the mainland.

What do you want voters to know about you?

When I ran for public office, I committed to take the voices of Chatham-Kent Leamington (CKL) to Ottawa, far more so than bringing talking points back from Ottawa. To that end, I have hosted over 108 public meetings to listen to the voices of constituents. My first priority going forward will continue to be to represent the voices of CKL, and in order to do that effectively, one must be available, through excellent constituency staff, and through personal interaction, to constituents.

Trevor Lee – People’s Party of Canada

Tell us a little bit about your life?

Born and raised in Winnipeg, MB. I had a normal childhood. Outside until dark, riding bikes, playing with friends, going to school. Had a great home life and would be seen as a typical middle-class family. I moved to Ontario when I was 19 as I fell in love with it when I visited at 15. But like most young people, moved back home, then back to Ontario, then back home, and then to Calgary, until moving to Ontario for good in 1999. I lived in Hamilton, where my two kids were born, until 2022 when we moved to Rodney, ON. I’ve always loved rural life and have enjoyed the last 3 years in the southwestern part of Ontario.

How would you support or protect the auto industry, greenhouse sector, and Chatham-Kent farmers from the Trump tariffs?

To protect our auto, manufacturing, greenhouse, and farming industries from the U.S. administrations tariffs is not to retaliate. We have already seen that President Trump is using these tariffs as a bargaining tool and has only added more tariffs to countries that have retaliated. Those who have not, have seen a 90 day pause, and an invitation to sit down and hash out new deals. This is the only approach that will be a plus for both countries. We cannot retaliate, as this is only shooting ourselves in the foot. They are our biggest trade partner, neighbour, and our economy depends on them.

Name one thing the previous government got wrong. Name one thing the previous government got right.

The previous government under the Liberals through using different hot topics were able to divide the country very well. Be it by region, religion, race, and sexuality, they divided Canadians better than anyone ever has. Take that as one thing they got right, for themselves, or got very wrong for the country. Call that inclusive.

If you have out of town guests coming to Chatham-Kent, what is your go-to tourist attraction to show them?

For out-of-town guests, I can answer from experience, as when my dad came to visit us, we took him to the beautiful little town of Erieau. We fell in love with it. Great beach, friendly people, and fantastic restaurants. But travelling all over this great riding, I have come across many little gems that would be worthy to add as an answer to the question.

What do you want voters to know about you?

One thing that I would want voters to know about me, if they vote for me or not, is that I am a great listener, hard worker, and will fight for everyone in this riding. Also, I’m a singer in a band. We can talk politics, or music. I’m good for both.

Seamus Fleming – New Democratic Party

Tell us a little bit about your life?

I have experience with healthcare legislation, such as breast cancer testing and removing toxic chemicals from firefighter’s jackets. I met with lobbyists and stakeholders in the health industry. I have also worked in warehouses and grocery stores. This helped (me) get involved in the union to bargain for a decent wage. I mainly joined the NDP to prevent privatization, the scaling back of our essential services has certainly made an impact on my life.

How would you support or protect the auto industry, greenhouse sector, and Chatham-Kent farmers from the Trump tariffs?

Protecting our industries and making them even better is our priority. We want to strengthen EI, as people in Southwestern Ontario are already facing unemployment. We want to do huge rebates for cars made in Canada, especially electric ones, to stimulate more car manufacturing. We also want to create victory bonds, which are like stocks that last five to 10 years that invest in our infrastructure, you get money back higher than the rate of interest. We did this during WWII. I also want to make sure that if industries are subsidized, we can’t have layoffs, the money should go to keeping jobs in Canada. A personal idea I have is to give the money we give to big grocery to local farmers; this will help control the cost of food.

Name one thing the previous government got wrong. Name one thing the previous government got right.

The Liberal government passed our pharma and dental care bills which I am happy about. I am also happy about rolling out affordable daycare, but we need to make sure it actually gets to $10 a day. I think the Liberals and Conservatives always fail to stand up to their corporate buddies. It’s either subsidies or tax cuts for the rich, and they switch between the two. I think the Liberals have failed to stand up to Amazon for laying off a whole province of workers for unionizing. We also need a labour minister to negotiate trade with the U.S. The Liberals left this out of their cabinet, we can’t leave the situation of decent employment behind when we are at threat of tariffs.

If you have out of town guests coming to Windsor-Essex, what is your go-to tourist attraction to show them?

Pelee Island is a part of our riding, I recommend everyone visits.

What do you want voters to know about you?

I think voters should know that I am researching farmers in politics. I also teach Indigenous politics and intro to poli sci. The idea that farmers are always Conservative is just not true. Farmers and workers invented the NDP. I want people to know that we can all work together. I don’t want a banker from Goldman Sachs or a career politician as my Prime Minister. This election is not about me, it’s about working together for a government that puts priority on regular people.

Keith Pickard – Liberal Party of Canada

Tell us a little bit about your life?

Born and raised in Chatham and now living in Leamington with his family, Keith Pickard has deep roots in the Chatham-Kent–Leamington region. A proud business owner and community advocate, Pickard has dedicated his life to building up the place he calls home.

Pickard is the founder of the Jakait Group — recognized as one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies — and later established Eclipse Packaging in the Leamington and Kingsville areas. With decades of experience in manufacturing, distribution and trucking, Keith understands the economic challenges facing local families and businesses. His career has been shaped by cross-border trade between Canada and the U.S., giving him a unique perspective on what’s needed to strengthen the region’s economic future.

How would you support or protect the auto industry, greenhouse sector, and Chatham-Kent farmers from the Trump tariffs?

Pickard believes that by investing more and cutting red tape, our new government will ensure Canadian farmers, ranchers, and agri-food workers have what they need to be protected from the United States and ensure they can get food from Canadian farms to Canadian plates.

By safeguarding our domestic food sector and investing in workers across the country, we will protect our economic sovereignty and build a stronger Canada. A concrete example of that is making permanent the doubling of the revenue protection for farmers under the AgriStability Program, from $3 million to $6 million per farm, in the case of significant revenue drops caused by the impacts of tariffs, extreme weather events, and other external shocks.

Name one thing the previous government got wrong.

One thing the previous government got wrong: (They) didn’t listen to Canadians, more specifically didn’t think about the consequences of the carbon tax enough and the impact it would have on small businesses, industry, and agriculture.

Name one thing the previous government got right.

One thing the previous government got right: It stood up to Donald Trump when it mattered.

If you have out of town guests coming to Chatham-Kent, what is your go-to tourist attraction to show them?

Point Pelee National Park.

What do you want voters to know about you?

Pickard knows that this election is about two things: Who can best stand up to Donald Trump as Canada’s Prime Minister and who in our local community can bring those concerns directly to the decision makers in our federal government.

James Plunkett – Green Party of Canada

Tell us a little bit about your life?

My name is James Plunkett. I am a 41-year-old AZ truck driver (past 11 years); also, I was an AZ driving instructor when times were slow during COVID. I have called Bothwell home for about 10 years. I grew up primarily in Keswick, a town in the GTA. I am a person with a disability; however, I never let it get in my way when following my dreams.

How would you support or protect the auto industry, greenhouse sector, and Chatham-Kent farmers from the Trump tariffs?

Strong financial support for small and medium businesses including farmers and those directly or indirectly involved in automotive. Suspend all subsidies and tax incentives for majority U.S.-owned corporations and redirect to Canadian owned and operated ones. Explore nationalizing our oil and gas industry.

Name one thing the previous government got wrong. Name one thing the previous government got right.

Bill C64 being passed was great; however, implementing it would have been a large step in the right direction for them actually caring about everyday people. There is a significant part of the population waiting on bated breath for the financial relief this bill would have provided. It has been more than a year since it was supposed to be implemented.

If you have out of town guests coming to Chatham-Kent, what is your go-to tourist attraction to show them?

Well, start the day with blueberry white chocolate or raspberry dark chocolate scones and coffee at Park’s Blueberry’s. Chatham has options... Check out the Thames Art Gallery, walk through the Tecumseh Park to Art Space on King Street. Finish up at Sons of Kent Micro Brewery before heading out of town. Cruise out to Morpeth for the Greenview Park and Zoo. Follow Talbot Trail out to Wheatley and continue following the water right up to Leamington beach or Point Pelee National Park, depending on the individual I am showing around.

What do you want voters to know about you?

I will be the voice for the voiceless in the House of Commons. In my lifetime, I have experienced the struggles of having a lower income, worrying if rent would get paid on time, having to choose between bills or food, et cetera. I believe in enabling people with disabilities to achieve their dreams through programs and technology. I would also like to see further efforts on climate change for the next generation. I believe Greens will be there for more than just the upper five per cent. We will be there for the vast majority.