By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
While on the campaign trail and knocking on doors to connect with area residents, the number one concern incumbent Essex Riding Conservative candidate Chris Lewis has heard is the cost of living.
He has heard that “time-and-time again from all age groups.”
While campaigning, Lewis has visited a lot of senior homes and has heard that concern there. He also heard the same concern from middle-aged folks with young children who voiced they were not sure if they were going to be able to afford getting their kids involved in sports. Or, that there may not be too many extra presents at birthday or Christmas, because there is just no disposable income.
There is quite a bit in the Conservative platform, aimed at being able to reduce the cost of living, Lewis said.
One of those items is the removal of the Carbon Tax.
“The Liberals have tried to take ownership for this. We’ve been calling on it for about three-years,” Lewis said, believing it is not good enough to only take the Carbon Tax off of the consumer-side. It has to be taken off of industry, also.
“We don’t trust Mr. Carney in that he will not bring back this Carbon Tax,” Lewis said.
Another item in the platform is to make housing more affordable, Lewis said. Conservatives plan to take the GST off of new homes under $1.3M, saving homebuyers up to $65,000 on the purchase of an average home in big cities, it notes on the Conservative website.
Another is to reduce the lowest income tax bracket by 15%, which is estimated to save Canadians up to $2000 per year, Lewis said. Conservatives would also take the GST off of new vehicles built in Canada.
Conservatives, he added, would also retract all of the Capital Gains announcements the Liberals wanted to put in place.
One item in the Conservative platform in which Lewis is particularly proud is that it includes his Private Member’s Bill, C-241 a tax deduction for travel for tradespersons.
It passed its third reading in the House of Commons in March of 2023, and was sent to the Senate-level for further evaluation.
The Bill was drafted to apply to those who were required to pay for expenses in the amounts expended travelling to and from the site, at least 120-kilometers away, if the taxpayer does three things: was required under contract of employment to pay those expenses, did not receive an allowance in respect of those expenses, and did not claim those expenses as an income deduction or a tax credit for the year.
Lewis said it is really humbling to know he has Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s ear in that C-241 is part of the Conservative national platform.
“That is the passion I have always had for labour [when I was] Shadow Minister of Labour,” Lewis said, noting the next question is, if re-elected, what will his next Private Member’s Bill be and how he can help out the labour industry.
In speaking about Poilievre’s visit to Windsor on April 11, Lewis said the event – which attracted thousands – was “absolutely electrifying. It was remarkable. And for me, personally, it was humbling, because the outpouring of support from people [who] came out to support the very common sense, strong Conservative message and the energy in that building was second to none; something I have never been part of before.”
Lewis was impressed with the event outcome. He said it was an honour to introduce Karl Lovett, Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), which Local 773 endorsed Poilievre.
“It was a win-win night,” Lewis said, noting he believed Poilievre delivered a very positive message for Canadians.
While campaigning, Lewis also has heard a lot about US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with the Essex Riding being close to the American Border.
In terms of tariff issues, Lewis said “we have to give backstops to labour first.” That goes back to making housing and making travel for work more affordable, and removing the Carbon Tax, so families can actually continue to survive and the labour force is not lost.
“I want to be part of the solution,” he said, noting another part of the Conservative Platform is to train 350,000 new skilled workers across the country.
He said his father taught him people come first a long time ago.
Lewis thanked all of his campaign volunteers and those who have had very respectful conservations, bringing fresh ideas for him to bring to Ottawa if elected.
The Conservative platform can be viewed at conservative.ca/news
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