Ontario Election 2025: NDP leader rallies support in Windsor during final campaign push

With an election just days away, the head of Ontario’s main opposition party made a final campaign push in Windsor touting her party’s position on health care, affordability, rent control, and jobs.

“These are ridings that we want to hold,” provincial NDP leader Marit Stiles told reporters Monday in Windsor West, the only riding south of London that is not Tory blue.

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“You can see it from the folks that are out today. There’s a lot of excitement here, a lot of momentum. We’re feeling people here want change, and they know firsthand what the cost of Doug Ford and the conservatives would be.”

A crowd of about 60 supporters gathered at Lanspeary Park in Windsor Monday waving orange signs and cheering as Stiles stepped off her campaign bus.

WINDSOR. ONT: – FEBRUARY 24, 2025 – Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles speaks at the Lanspeary Park in Windsor. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

Stiles was joined by local NDP candidates, including MPP Lisa Gretzky for Windsor West, Gemma Grey-Hall for Windsor-Tecumseh, and Rachael Mills for Essex. Also in attendance was MP Brian Masse, the federal NDP representative for Windsor-Tecumseh.

One of Stiles’ key promises during her brief Windsor visit was to strengthen Ontario’s health-care system and increase the number of family doctors — particularly in Windsor-Essex, where nearly 47,000 residents are without one.

Addressing the rising cost of living was also at the top of her agenda.

“You know what people want? They want us to address the rising cost of food, the rent increases that are forcing people to lose their homes,” said Stiles.

“They’re wondering when they’re going to get a family doctor and how long they’re going to have to wait in emergency rooms if they’re even open. They’re wondering where they’re going to find affordable homes to live in. They’re seeing jobs flee the province. So, to me, this is just another example of Doug Ford not being in touch with where Ontarians are at.”

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Stiles lauded the NDP plan to introduce a monthly grocery rebate, rent control protections, and increased provincial funding for Transit Windsor, which would cover 50 per cent of operating costs.

She pledged to upload the E.C. Row Expressway back to provincial management and address the region’s $405-million repair backlog across all four school boards in the area.

Stiles also took aim at Premier Doug Ford, who called the election a year early to secure a stronger mandate from Ontarians to navigate the next four years of U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, including tariffs.

After a month-long pause, Trump on Monday said he will still move forward with a 25 per cent tariff on most imports from Canada starting next week.

“Hell of a lot of good Doug Ford did for us, right?” said Stiles.