Stiles pushes back on PC bid to flip Windsor West, lone non-Tory seat west of London

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles dismissed the Progressive Conservatives’ push to take Windsor West in the upcoming provincial election.

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles dismissed the Progressive Conservatives’ push to take Windsor West in the upcoming provincial snap election, firing back at the party during a campaign stop in the city.

Of the six provincial ridings west of London — Windsor West, Essex, Windsor-Tecumseh, Chatham-Kent-Leamington, Sarnia-Lambton and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex— Windsor West is the only one not held by a Conservative.

Lisa Gretzky has represented Windsor West for the NDP since 2014.In the Feb. 27 provincial election, Ontario PC candidate Tony Francis will try to unseat her.

In mid-December, Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini made it clear the PCs are targeting Windsor West.“

This is her [Gretzky’s] last Christmas in this place potentially, Speaker, because we’re coming for that member from Windsor,” Piccini said at the time.

Speaking to reporters Friday at the Unifor office on Turner Road in Windsor, Stiles defended Gretzky as a “fighter” for Windsor West.

“Has he met Lisa Gretzky? Are you kidding me?” Stiles said. “I’d love to see Doug Ford take on Lisa Gretzky. I’ve seen it in the legislature multiple times, and he’s lost every single battle with her.”

Stiles was joined Friday by Gretzky, Gemma Grey-Hall and Rachael Mills.Grey-Hall is running for the NDP in Windsor-Tecumseh against PC incumbent Andrew Dowie.

Mills is running in Essex against PC incumbent Anthony Leardi and Kevin Linfield of the None of the Above Direct Democratic Party.