Tariffs, accessibility, health care top of mind for voters in Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore

In the federal riding of Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, U.S. imposed tariffs, health care, inflation and accessibility are some of the top election issues among the voters CBC News spoke with.

Resident Terry Regier said there's an impending crisis with volatile markets, an aftermath of the uncertainty that U.S. President Donald Trump has created with his tariff war.

"The ability to handle the tariffs, the character of the individual and the economics behind how we handle our debt," he said, are the characteristics he's looking for in candidates.

Terry said he is undecided for the first time in 40 years on who will get his vote. He said he will be voting strategically this time to vote in a party leader that can face off against Trump. 

This riding, formerly known as Windsor—Tecumseh, has been redrawn to now include portions of Lakeshore after a redistribution process that ended in September 2023, spearheaded by an independent commission. The riding picks up the portion of Lakeshore north of Highway 401 and west of Puce River, formerly in the riding of Essex. 

Terry's wife, Carole Regier, said seniors' health care is the sole issue she is concerned about and would like the party leaders to address it on the campaign trail.

"Don't take away the drug deals that they have for us, and the pensions. I'm kind of worried about losing pensions," she said. "I'm worried that the candidates have got a lot of promises that they're making, but how many are actually gonna go through?"

"We have a set amount of money we get in a month. And even if we do have our pensions from our previous jobs, it all gets eaten away," said Terry. 

Kailey Ross said she is looking for a big change for the country.

"Obviously education is a huge thing. My daughter needs extra help, so I really don't want those budget cuts," she said.

Outside of a grocery store, the young mother said amidst inflationary pressures and rising grocery prices, it's not easy to raise a family.

For Lorrhea Marion, 20, this will be her first time voting in a federal election.

"It's very important to look at societal changes within the working class more and I feel like a lot of parties are very focused on businesses when I think we should be focusing on the citizens," she said.

Working at a sushi restaurant, Marion said affordability and job security are a real concern for herself and other young people.