October 2025 News
Welcome Pierre! | Oct 25, 2025
Pierre Poilievre was in Windsor celebrating our hardworking volunteers and sharing his vision for a stronger, safer, and more affordable Canada.
He spoke about unlocking the power of free enterprise, keeping our communities safe, and getting government back to doing its core job — protecting Canadians.
Proud to stand with a leader who believes in empowering workers, builders, and entrepreneurs right here in Essex County.
Welcome Pierre! | Oct 25, 2025
Pierre Poilievre was in town this month!
We celebrated the incredible volunteers whose hard work and dedication make all the difference in our communities and campaigns. Thank you for everything you do to keep our movement strong and united!
More Liberal Failures | Oct 24, 2025
Canadians are working harder but falling further behind. Food prices have risen nearly 50% faster in Canada than in the U.S., rent is up almost 5%, and over two million people now rely on food banks every month. After ten years of inflationary spending, Canadians deserve an affordable budget that puts their needs first.
Conservatives are calling for practical steps — cutting taxes on food, work, and homebuilding, and keeping spending under control — so life can finally become affordable again.
Protect Canadian Trucking | Oct 23, 2025
Canada’s reputation is at stake with unsafe truck drivers and bad actors on the roads involved in cross-border trucking.
That’s unfair to legitimate truck driving businesses in our riding, unfair to the hard-working truck drivers in our community, and unfair to the industry.
It was disheartening to hear how the compliant truck drivers and law-abiding industry business owners are at a $45,000 per-driver disadvantage.
It’s time for the Liberal governments to stop rewarding tax evaders and illegitimate trucking companies. After a decade of Liberal inaction, Canadians deserve better.
Cost of Living | Oct 23, 2025
After ten years of rising costs, many Canadians are finding it harder to afford everyday life. Statistics show that deficits, taxes, and higher prices are putting pressure on families across the country.
Conservatives are calling for an Affordable Budget for an Affordable Canada that will:
>Scrap hidden taxes on food — including carbon and packaging costs that drive up grocery prices.
> Cut taxes on work, homebuilding, investment, and energy — so life costs less and paycheques go further.
> Stop the inflation tax by controlling deficits, boosting resource development, and reducing government waste.
Canada’s Conservatives believe in results that put Canadians first — so every family can afford a home, fill their fridge, and build a better life.
Bill S-233 | Oct 22, 2025
The Senate has passed Bill S-233, which will increase penalties for anyone who assaults first responders or healthcare workers. It now moves to the House of Commons — because violence is never part of their job.
Cost of Living Update | Oct 22, 2025
Statistics Canada released new inflation data today showing that the cost of living continues to rise across the country.
Inflation increased 2.4% year-over-year in September. Food prices rose 3.8% overall — and 4% for food purchased in stores. Gasoline prices climbed 1.9% in just one month. Rent increased 4.8% year-over-year, following a 4.5% rise in August.Across Canada, many families are struggling to keep up. Brandon’s Samaritan House Ministries reports a 25% increase in the number of meals provided compared to 2023 — part of a growing national trend of record food bank visits.
Over two million Canadians now rely on food banks every month, and in the Greater Toronto Area alone, visits have nearly doubled since 2023.Canada’s Conservatives are focused on practical solutions to restore affordability — by ending inflation-driving deficits and ensuring Canadians can once again afford a home, put food on the table, and live securely under our proud Canadian flag. 
Standing up for our Community | Oct 21, 2025
When the Liberals forget about the impact of border policies on areas like Essex, I will always stand to remind them.
Today I had the opportunity to speak on Bill C-12, and demand clearer border directives and better protections for our small and medium businesses, to prevent the Liberals from further harming Canada’s economic growth.
Canada needs strong and secure borders, but we cannot afford to leave behind our exporters and our CBSA officers, who are the foundation of our economy and our national security.
That is why Conservatives will fight to amend this bill to promote efficient border operations, while ensuring the physical and financial security of all Canadians. We will also make sure the Liberal government cannot give themselves unchecked authority without parliamentary review.
I will continue fighting for smart border policy, not vague promises.
CRA Failures | Oct 21, 2025
Last month, Carney’s Minister responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) debuted their new slogan: “It can’t get much worse than it is now.” Today, the Auditor General reported that under the Liberals, it has.
Over the 2024/25 period, only 18 per cent of callers were able to reach a CRA agent within 15 minutes, a far cry from the target of 65 per cent of callers. In June, the numbers plunged to just 5 per cent of callers able to get through within the service standard of 15 minutes.
The average wait time took over half an hour, double what it was the year prior. And that was if you were even given the option of getting help. Nearly nine million calls were “deflected” by an automated voice telling Canadians to figure it out themselves, with no option to speak with an agent.
Wait times are so bad that over 7.6 million calls were disconnected before callers were able to reach an agent or be provided automated service. As wait times continue to get worse and worse, Canadians have just given up, evidenced by 2.4 million more abandoned calls over the previous year.
Even when Canadians manage to get hold of an agent, employees regularly fail to provide correct information about personal and business taxes. Auditors found the call centre gave incorrect information 83 per cent of the time when asked general individual tax questions.
Non-specific questions about benefits, including about eligibility, were wrong 44 per cent of the time. Meanwhile, the CRA’s automated chatbot “Charlie”, meant to relieve the call centre, answered only two of six tax-related questions correctly.
“How is it that an organization so important to the smooth functioning of the country is failing to serve Canadians and, as the Auditor General notes, places greater importance on adhering to shift schedules and breaks than on the accuracy and completeness of the information provided?” asked Gérard Deltell, Conservative Shadow Minister for Revenue.
It’s no surprise that complaints about the CRA’s contact centre increased 145 per cent from 2021/22 to 2024/25. Despite this, the Liberals announced they will begin auto-filing taxes for 5.5 million Canadians, automatically enrolling people in benefits the CRA is regularly unable to provide accurate information about.
Worse of all, the cost of the CRA’s call centre has ballooned from $50 million over 10 years in 2015 to $190 million. The total cost is projected to continue rising to $214 million over the next two years, a more than 320 per cent increase from the original contracted amount.
Meanwhile, Auditors found “there was no process documented or followed to ensure that amounts invoiced … were accurate and reflected the services received,” and that there was “little evidence that invoice details were appropriately reviewed and approved by … the Canada Revenue Agency prior to issuing payment.”
The Liberals have delivered higher taxes and higher costs with worse service for Canadians. We deserve better than continued Liberal failures.
Conservatives will continue holding Carney accountable and fight to cut taxes and waste so Canadians keep more of what they earn.
CRA Failures | Oct 21, 2025
Last month, Carney’s Minister responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) debuted their new slogan: “It can’t get much worse than it is now.” Today, the Auditor General reported that under the Liberals, it has.
Over the 2024/25 period, only 18 per cent of callers were able to reach a CRA agent within 15 minutes, a far cry from the target of 65 per cent of callers. In June, the numbers plunged to just 5 per cent of callers able to get through within the service standard of 15 minutes.
The average wait time took over half an hour, double what it was the year prior. And that was if you were even given the option of getting help. Nearly nine million calls were “deflected” by an automated voice telling Canadians to figure it out themselves, with no option to speak with an agent.
Wait times are so bad that over 7.6 million calls were disconnected before callers were able to reach an agent or be provided automated service. As wait times continue to get worse and worse, Canadians have just given up, evidenced by 2.4 million more abandoned calls over the previous year.
Even when Canadians manage to get hold of an agent, employees regularly fail to provide correct information about personal and business taxes. Auditors found the call centre gave incorrect information 83 per cent of the time when asked general individual tax questions.
Non-specific questions about benefits, including about eligibility, were wrong 44 per cent of the time. Meanwhile, the CRA’s automated chatbot “Charlie”, meant to relieve the call centre, answered only two of six tax-related questions correctly.
“How is it that an organization so important to the smooth functioning of the country is failing to serve Canadians and, as the Auditor General notes, places greater importance on adhering to shift schedules and breaks than on the accuracy and completeness of the information provided?” asked Gérard Deltell, Conservative Shadow Minister for Revenue.
It’s no surprise that complaints about the CRA’s contact centre increased 145 per cent from 2021/22 to 2024/25. Despite this, the Liberals announced they will begin auto-filing taxes for 5.5 million Canadians, automatically enrolling people in benefits the CRA is regularly unable to provide accurate information about.
Worse of all, the cost of the CRA’s call centre has ballooned from $50 million over 10 years in 2015 to $190 million. The total cost is projected to continue rising to $214 million over the next two years, a more than 320 per cent increase from the original contracted amount.
Meanwhile, Auditors found “there was no process documented or followed to ensure that amounts invoiced … were accurate and reflected the services received,” and that there was “little evidence that invoice details were appropriately reviewed and approved by … the Canada Revenue Agency prior to issuing payment.”
The Liberals have delivered higher taxes and higher costs with worse service for Canadians. We deserve better than continued Liberal failures.
Conservatives will continue holding Carney accountable and fight to cut taxes and waste so Canadians keep more of what they earn.
Conservative Demands | Oct 20, 2025
Canada’s Conservatives are calling on the Liberal government and Mark Carney to use the upcoming budget to make life more affordable.
After ten years of rising costs, inflation remains near 40-year highs and food prices have increased 48% faster than in the U.S.
Conservatives are urging action to cut taxes on work, homebuilding, and energy, scrap hidden food taxes, and rein in government deficits to help Canadians get ahead again.
Royal Canadian Legion | Oct 18, 2025
It was an honour, this afternoon, to welcome the delegates of the Royal Canadian Legion to Essex and the DISTRICT “A” 2025 Fall Convention!
It is important to support our local Legions as they support our veterans and their families, as well as, ensure that we never forget those that gave their lives for our freedom.
56th Migration Festival Parade | Oct 18, 2025
What a beautiful day today for the 56th annual Migration Festival parade in Kingsville!
It was great to see so many new and familiar faces along the way, as well all the fur-friends!
Thank you to all the organizers and volunteers who helped make this event possible!
Protect Canadian Auto Workers | Oct 17, 2025
Canadians deserve answers.
Thousands of Stellantis auto workers recently received news that Jeep production will move from Brampton to the United States — despite billions in federal subsidies meant to keep those jobs here in Canada.
That’s why Pierre Poilievre has written to Prime Minister Carney, asking him to release the full details of the Stellantis contracts. Canadians have a right to know what job protections were included and how billions of taxpayer dollars were spent.
This isn’t about politics — it’s about accountability. Families across Ontario and across the country are wondering how they’ll pay their bills and what the future of Canada’s auto sector looks like.
Canadians deserve transparency.
Workers deserve honesty.
And our government owes them answers.
Emergency Debate on Auto Jobs | Oct 16, 2025
The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, made a formal request to the Hon. Francis Scarpaleggia, Speaker of the House of Commons, requesting an Emergency Debate on the crisis in Canada’s automotive sector:
Dear Mr. Speaker,
This month, over three thousand Stellantis workers got a call that Jeep production would be moving out of Brampton to the US. Despite billions in Liberal subsidies, the automaker is moving jobs and investment to Illinois, leaving former employees wondering how they will pay their mortgages and put food on the table.
The Prime Minister repeatedly bragged he would negotiate a “win” and “handle” Donald Trump. He has done the exact opposite, with disastrous results for Canadian workers. He has failed to deliver the promised “win” for workers in the automotive industry, and other critical sectors like softwood lumber, who don’t have the luxury of waiting for CUSMA to be renegotiated.
Since Mark Carney became Prime Minister, 97,700 more Canadians are out of work. These devastating job losses don’t include the 3,000 Stellantis workers left in limbo after Carney sold them out to the Americans. From farms and factories to steel and saw mills, the cost of Carney’s failures has hard-working Canadians paying the price.
That is why today, I am writing to request an Emergency Debate, pursuant to Standing Order 52, on the growing crisis in Canada’s automotive sector and the 3,000 jobs from the Brampton Stellantis plant being outsourced to the United States.
There is precedent set by the House for granting an emergency debate for job loss in the auto sector. On November 26, 2018 – when 2,500 auto jobs were threatened at the Oshawa GM plant – Speaker Regan granted an emergency debate on the crisis.
Given that the parliamentary calendar set by the Liberal government has not presented any opportunities or scheduled any opposition days to address the jobs lost at the Stellantis plant, and given the scale of this job loss and the responsibility of this House to protect auto jobs, it is incumbent upon you to grant this debate.
Failing to grant an Emergency Debate would be an insult to thousands of affected families. Conservatives will not stand by while Ontario’s auto sector is threatened because of the Prime Minister’s broken promises.
This is about real Canadian families who are being crushed by the Prime Minister’s failure on trade. Our country deserves a debate on this question, and we need it now.
Conservative Youth Jobs Plan | Oct 15, 2025
Canada’s youth are facing a jobs crisis — with over 460,000 young Canadians out of work and youth unemployment nearing 15%, the highest in more than 25 years outside the pandemic.
The Conservative Youth Jobs Plan offers real solutions to help young Canadians build their future:
-Unleash the Economy – Cut taxes, remove red tape, and restore opportunity.
– Fix Immigration – Align immigration with housing and job market needs.
– Fix Training – Prioritize support for students in high-demand fields.
– Build Homes Where the Jobs Are – Offer a 100% write-off for businesses building workforce housing.
It’s time for action — not excuses.
The Liberal government has no jobs plan for youth. Conservatives do.
Food Inflation | Oct 14, 2025
Canadians deserve a break at the checkout.
After a lost Liberal decade, families are being forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. Food prices have risen 48% faster in Canada than in the U.S., while food banks are seeing record lineups.
Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadian workers, seniors, and families—driving up food inflation, mortgage delinquencies, and job losses. Now, Mark Carney’s deficits are expected to be twice as high as Justin Trudeau’s, while his taxes on fuel and fertilizer make it even harder for farmers to grow affordable food.
Conservatives have a common-sense plan to bring back powerful paycheques and affordable groceries by scrapping:
-The industrial carbon tax on fertilizer and farm equipment
-The fuel standard tax on diesel and gasoline
-The inflation tax from money-printing deficits
-The food packaging tax on plastics and packaging
It’s time to end inflationary spending, stop taxing groceries, and restore the Canadian promise — where working hard means you can afford to feed your family.
Happy Thanksgiving | Oct 12, 2025
As we gather with family and friends to celebrate this season of gratitude, let us take a moment to reflect on the many blessings we share — our loved ones, our communities, and our great country.
May your day be filled with laughter, warmth, and plenty of good food. From my family to yours, wishing everyone across Essex and beyond a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Standing up for Auto Workers | Oct 10, 2025
Essex is home to thousands of hardworking auto workers. But because of Liberal inaction, hundreds in our community are losing their livelihoods—while $10 billion is being sent to a US battery plant.
Today, I asked the Minister of Jobs and Families when Canadians can expect a deal that invests in our economy.
Instead of a real answer, Canadians, once again, got more deflection. An unhinged Liberal minister not understanding the consequences affecting our auto industry and workers in Essex-Windsor.
Canadians don’t want an extension to EI they want to work and have job security!
Conservatives are here to stand up for Canadian auto workers.
Fighting for Canadian Trucking | Oct 9, 2025
It was heartbreaking to hear from a father who owns a small trucking company that he’s discouraging his kids from taking over the business.
Rampant tax fraud and corruption in our immigration system are devastating the trucking industry, yet the Liberal government refuses to act.
Jobs are being lost in Windsor-Essex because of decades of Liberal government inaction in the trucking industry.
It’s time for the Liberals to crack down on bad actors who are undermining the hard work of our truck drivers and union members.
Protecting Your Privacy | Oct 8, 2025
Conservatives stopped the Liberal government’s Bill C-2 — a bill that would have given them sweeping new powers to access Canadians’ personal information without a warrant.
We’re standing up for your privacy and freedoms.
Protecting your personal information Restoring order at the border Focusing on tougher sentences for lawbreakers Ensuring law-abiding Canadians can send mail, use the internet, and make lawful transactions freelyOnly Conservatives will defend your individual freedoms and privacy.
National Police Federation | Oct 7, 2025
As a former firefighter, I thoroughly enjoyed discussing potential developments for Canada’s emergency services with representatives from the National Police Federation.
Thank you to all the brave men and women who keep our country safe, and thank you to these gentleman for advocating on their behalf!
Jail Not Bail | Oct 3, 2025
This week in Parliament:
Conservatives introduced a motion to scrap four Liberal taxes driving up grocery prices:
• Carbon tax on fertilizer & farm equipment
• Fuel standard tax on diesel & gas
• Inflation tax from rising deficits
• Food packaging tax
The motion was voted down by the Carney Liberals.
We also called for immediate passage of Bill C-242, the Jail Not Bail Act, to keep repeat violent offenders off our streets.
Conservatives will continue to fight to lower costs, keep Canadians safe, and bring home powerful paycheques.
Standing for our CBSA Officers | Oct 2, 2025
The Gordie Howe International Bridge will reshape Essex and our region — but where’s the consultation with the CBSA officers who protect our community, and our country, every day? Local voices matter.
I asked the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, to make sure this bill delivers real results for the people who live and work here.
Stay Connected! | Oct 2, 2025
Wondering what Chris has been up to in our community and in Ottawa?
There are a number of ways to stay connected and see the work Chris is doing to represent Essex:
Monthly E-Newsletter – A recap highlighting just some of the events, meetings, and initiatives Chris has been involved in over the past month. Website Updates – Visit www.chrislewismp.cafor news releases, statements, and updates on issues that matter to our riding.
Social Media – Follow along here for regular updates and community highlights.Staying informed has never been easier – sign up for the newsletter today and see firsthand how Chris is working hard for the people of Essex.
National Seniors Day | Oct 1, 2025
Today, on National Seniors Day, we recognize and honour the incredible contributions of seniors across our country.
Your wisdom, dedication, and lifelong commitment continue to strengthen our communities and inspire future generations.
Thank you, seniors, for all you have done—and continue to do—for Canada.
Staying informed has never been easier – sign up for the newsletter today and see firsthand how Chris is working hard for the people of Essex.