Essex MP hosts “Coffee with Chris” around the riding

Essex MP Chris Lewis (centre) speaks to constituents last Thursday morning at Caffeine & Co. in Amherstburg. He hit seven coffee shops around the riding last week to speak with residents.

Essex MP Chris Lewis hit the road last week sharing coffee and hearing what residents feel is important to them.

Lewis presented “Coffee with Chris” Aug. 10-13 with stops in all areas of the riding he represents in Ottawa. 

His Amherstburg stop was last Thursday morning at Caffeine & Co. on Dalhousie St. and he concluded his journey around the riding later that day at Leonidas Chocolates Café in LaSalle.

Other stops last week included Rose’s Kitchen in Essex, The Iron Kettle in Comber, Café Amor & Art in Lakeshore, the King St. Café in Harrow and the Red Lantern Coffee Co. in Kingsville.

“I’m hearing everything,” said Lewis, during his Amherstburg stop.

Affordability was a topic the Conservative MP said he heard a lot about during his stops. Uncertainty about the cost of living, the impact of tariffs from the Trump administration in the United States and the ability for businesses to stay afloat were among the issues he was hearing.

“I’m just hearing a lot of fear and it breaks my heart to hear it,” said Lewis. “They want to get back to normal. They are just uncertain. They didn’t vote for this.”

Conservatives are proposing a stop the gas tax initiative. About 92 per cent of oil is shipped to the United States and Lewis added Canada needs to send more overseas. He also was critical of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to allow up to 49,000 electric vehicles from China into the country via a trade agreement.

“We’ve got to keep holding the government to account,” said Lewis. 

Lewis also criticized Carney’s vacation to Italy, adding while everyone deserves a vacation, it should not be at a “lavish resort” outside of Canada.

Canadians “still don’t have all the answers” regarding a deal with the U.S. to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

“We’re going to continue asking questions,” vowed Lewis. “There are just a lot of questions that need to be answered.”

His letter that was sent to Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, Julie Dabrusin regarding severe weather notification has been in the media lately but Lewis said he will continue pressing due to its importance to the region. He added he has not received official notification as of yet from the government.

“This fight is far from over,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do for the safety of residents.”

There were “fresh and good ideas” from residents in all municipalities, Lewis added. Community engagement is vital, he said, and he expressed his thanks to the coffee shops that allowed him to come in and meet with residents.

The fact residents come in and met with him is something he takes as a sign he is doing his job. There were no confrontations, just respectful dialogue, he said.

“It tells me I'm on the right track when people are engaged,” said Lewis. “I’m resident-driven. I want to help people. I love people.”

Essex MP hosts “Coffee with Chris” around the riding

By Ron Giofu