Latest news with #Masse
The Drive
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Off-Road Honda Fit Is Really a Polaris RZR Underneath and It Rips
When you think about it, anything can become an off-roading beast nowadays. With the proper tires, lift kit, suspension, and disregard for self-preservation—er, I mean, passion —even a Honda Fit can terrorize your neighborhood's immaculate lawns. Resembling a Micro Machines car come to life is Danny Duncan's off-roading 2017 Honda Fit. It was actually lifted and transformed into an off-roader in 2020, and you can check out that incarnation of the vehicle at the 2:41 mark of this old video. Last year, fellow content creator/builder Mike Masse crashed Duncan's Polaris RZR. Masse's injuries put him in the hospital, but by the time he was discharged, he had an idea: swapping the Fit's innards for the RZR's. A modded Fit 4×4 has been done before, but a body swap? To be a true off-roader, sure, why not give the subcompact Honda a side-by-side's capability? As Masse explains, the fit of the, uh, Fit was underwhelming. 'The little transmission can't turn 35s, the suspension is creaky, and there's some broken parts,' he said in his first video about the build. Nevertheless, he also casually added that 'It might be the best Honda Fit to ever exist.' Masse started posting about the project in March, documenting the repair of the RZR, the body swap, and the teardown test drive, which happened just a couple of weeks ago and is embedded above. To see and hear the 'upgraded' RZR-Fit (this thing needs a real name), you can skip to about 7:27. Masse rips the little Honda around the property near the garage at full squeal. This definitely can no longer be called a small, front-wheel-drive car. It doesn't sound like a Fit at all, and in overhead shots, it doesn't drive like one either, rumbling around those dirt corners. Masse then takes the lifted Honda to the streets and, subsequently, the grassy road verges. That bit starts at the 8:38 mark, and we see the Fit's handling from the road. And, as you'd expect, the thing drives over and onto everything with very little effort. A standard Fit would've lost a bumper at the least. The joyride ends with a sheriff's deputy waiting back at the shop due to reports of 'racing.' Masse doesn't say what the result of the conversation was, but tells us, 'I don't think I broke 40 mph.' He adds, 'Typical, like [a] Honda thing where it sounds like it's fast and it sounds loud, but it's not really going anywhere.' The off-road Fit is unfinished, of course. Masse wants to address 'clunking' noises he heard, improve the stopping power of the brakes, and add another inch or two of lift to better accommodate the big tires, which still rub against the fender during hard stops and turning. The overall build won't win any points for cleanliness, but the vehicle is structurally sound thanks to all the welding that was done. Masse did a great job of making regularly serviceable bits, like refueling, easily accessible. Let's hope the next test is on an actual trail, though. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Beverly Braga has enjoyed an eventful career as a Swiss Army knife, having held roles as an after-school teacher, film critic, PR manager, transcriber, and video producer – to name a few. She is currently a communications consultant and freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous outlets covering automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, and food & beverage. Beverly grew up in Hawaii but roots for Washington, D.C., sports teams.
National Post
02-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
'Unprecedented territory': Major labour shift at polls as blue-collar goes Tory blue
As much of the rest of Canada went red Monday night, an epic voter shift turned all of Windsor-Essex blue. Article content Article content In a Canadian election often dominated by U.S. politics, the Liberal Party of Canada scored a historic comeback on Monday with Prime Minister Mark Carney — leader of a party written off as a sure loser — winning a fourth government mandate. Article content But an equally historic turn occurred in Windsor-Essex, where the Conservative Party of Canada swept every riding, a modern-day first, including the defeat of two incumbents. Article content In a major border battleground victory, Conservative Harb Gill won Windsor West over longtime NDP incumbent Brian Masse, who fell to third place after holding a seemingly unshakeable grip in the riding since 2002. Article content The Conservatives also appear to have taken Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore from Liberal incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk, who helped bring a potentially unprecedented amount of funding and investment to the local region during his two terms as MP. The official vote was not yet certain Tuesday morning, however, in a close race. Article content Article content 'For Windsor to flip blue is quite something,' said University of Windsor political scientist Lydia Miljan. Article content 'It does show that the Conservative strategy of gunning for blue-collar support and for union support paid off, especially in Windsor, and some Hamilton ridings as well. Article content 'Clearly, they were speaking to people where they lived. They were focused on economic issues, and people were feeling the cost of living. I think their strategy and timing played very well for them, in this region at least.' Article content Article content Article content 'Tonight, you made history. You chose hope over fear, opportunity over division, and a fresh start for our community. Tonight, you chose change. Article content 'I am incredibly honoured and grateful for the trust you placed in me.' Article content Masse's loss after 23 years was part of an epic unraveling for the NDP. Leader Jagmeet Singh stepped down early Tuesday after losing his own British Columbia seat — and party status in the House of Commons. Article content Article content 'I have zero regrets about anything that took place,' said Masse. 'I have nothing but admiration and great experiences and fond memories, even during a loss. Article content 'The result isn't what we wanted tonight, but that's okay. That's our democracy, and I accept the results.' Article content The hotly contested race in Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore was too close to call until after midnight. But Conservative Kathy Borrelli apparently unseated Liberal Irek Kusmierczyk, who had represented the riding since 2019.
CBC
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Harb Gill projected to win Windsor West, CBC News projects Liberal government
Conservative candidate Harb Gill will win the coveted riding of Windsor West, CBC projects. A political newcomer, Gill has flipped the riding from the NDP's Brian Masse, who held it for more than two decades. Meanwhile, Conservative incumbents Dave Epp (Chatham-Kent—Leamington), Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong) and Chris Lewis (Essex) have been re-elected, CBC News projects. CBC News is projecting a Liberal government, but the Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore riding is still too close to call. You can follow national results here. Canada's automotive capital emerged as a focal point of the 36-day federal campaign because of its proximity to and relationship with the U.S. Windsor was a popular destination for party leaders, particularly the Liberals' Mark Carney and the NDP's Jagmeet Singh, who bookended their campaigns in the city. Already, turnout in the region's five federal ridings has been high, with thousands of voters hitting advance polls over the Easter long weekend. Polls in Ontario closed Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET. Windsor West Gill's team and supporters celebrated at a local banquet hall as he was projected to win the Windsor West seat, one of the most closely watched this election. "Oh my god, this is one of the greatest nights," said Al Teshuba, who worked on Gill's campaign. "We knew that Brian Masse was beatable, we knew that the border town of Windsor deserved a Conservative for the right border, trade, economy." Windsor West has long been an NDP stronghold, with Masse holding it since 2002. But the riding was flipped by Gill, a former police officer, who was projected to win with roughly 40 per cent of the vote share and nearly all 231 polls reporting. "I think our message was of hope matched with action which is going to bring results," Gill said. "That is what resonated with the voters." He said "affordability, crime, opioid awareness" are among his priorities for when he gets to Ottawa. He also thanked fellow candidates Richard Pollock, who ran for the Liberals, and Masse. "They are great people," Gill said. "Anybody who steps up to public service, I've done 30 years of public service, I know the sacrifices you have to make, and so did they." In a concession speech, Masse told supporters he is without regrets. "It's not the result that we wanted, and I thought about this a lot before even coming here," Masse said. "I am super proud and grateful for all of you here today, because I still believe in positive politics," he said. "I don't for once think that the future of this country is about remaining hidden or doing things not up front, because what we need to do is still provide hope and opportunity, and not the negativity that we see sometimes during politics." Here's what voters in the riding told CBC Windsor they were looking for from candidates. Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore Election Day in the newly redrawn Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore riding got off to a fiery start after a blaze erupted on the roof of the WFCU Centre, one of the riding's polling stations. Voters were redirected to St. Joseph's Catholic High School. The riding made national headlines early on in the race when the Conservatives removed candidate Mark McKenzie over comments he made on a podcast in 2022. The party replaced McKenzie with Kathy Borrelli, who ran in the riding unsuccessfully in the last federal election. The Liberals' Irek Kusmierczyk has held the seat since 2019, and the NDP's candidate is Alex Ilijoski, an ambulance communications officer. Kusmierczyk and Borrelli were locked in a tight race with 280 of 282 polls reporting after 1 a.m. Tuesday. Ilijoski, trailing in a distant third, told CBC Windsor that at voters' doors, "the number one issue for the vast majority of people was Trump and the tariffs […] especially for our riding being a border city." "The vast majority of Canadians do not want us to become part of the United States and this election is basically a show of that," he said. Essex Chris Lewis, who has held the riding since 2019, has been re-elected, CBC News projects. In his victory speech, Lewis thanked voters, as well as his family and team, for their support. "It means the world to me," he said. He also praised Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, saying he "has worked tirelessly." "He cares about our region," Lewis said. "I'm proud of him, I stand firmly behind him, and I'm just excited to get to work." Essex is a largely rural riding that includes several municipalities and saw the third highest turnout in advance voting nationwide. A Liberal stronghold from the 1970s to the early 2000s, the riding has voted mostly Conservative since. Lewis faced a challenge from Liberal candidate Chris Sutton, a farmer and millwright, and the NDP's Lori Wightman. Chatham-Kent—Leamington CBC News projects that incumbent Dave Epp will be headed back to Parliament. In an interview with CBC Windsor, Epp said it was "truly humbling to be given the trust" of constituents once again. "What I heard at the doors are the issues that we've heard for several years," he said. "The cost of food, cost of living, cost of housing, and certainly with the threat of tariffs, and the uncertainty, the precarity that brings to employment, the concerns that Canada's been facing over the last couple of years are just exacerbated." Agriculture and automotive are important employers in this riding, which the Conservatives have held since 2006. Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong Marilyn Gladu, who has held the riding since 2015, has also been re-elected, CBC News projects. Once a bellwether riding, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong was expanded and renamed ahead of this election to include Walpole Island First Nation. "This is a great victory, certainly hard fought. We had doubled the size of the riding and added 20,000 people," Gladu told CBC Windsor. "I will definitely be a strong voice to get dollars from the federal government back to our riding to support the things we need to do here as a cross border community." "Even for those who didn't vote for me, I'm here for you," she added. George Vandenberg was the local Liberal candidate, while Lo-Anne Chan was running for the NDP.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
What could the election mean for Ojibway National Urban Park?
The promise of an Ojibway National Urban Park on the city's east end has come up on the campaign trail, as local candidates in the Windsor West riding promised their support to see the long-awaited green space finally opened. During the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce's customary candidates debate held on Tuesday, five candidates from the riding squared off on some of the most talked about topics heading into this federal election — like housing, immigration and the tariff war. But on one issue at least, they all seemed in agreement — the opening of Ojibway National Urban Park. "The biggest thing we'll do is retable my bill," said NDP candidate and incumbent Brian Masse. "The Senate has the bill already, it's all set to go." Masse was referring to a pre-election private member's bill he brought forward to create the park. That bill had passed its third and final reading and was on its way to the Senate before Parliament was prorogued. At the same time, the Liberals say the park is already being created through a process with Parks Canada and will open this year. At Tuesday's debate, Masse said his bill would put Ojibway on par with a park like Point Pelee, and that he has the support of Windsor's city council. "So we'd be guaranteed for the future, it would have the investments necessary to make sure that the proper planning is done, Indigenous consultation, and it's going to get the support that's necessary to make sure that it's going to protect the species at risk — 550 in particular." Conservative candidate Harb Gill also pledged to see the park open. "I can promise you this, whether Brian's elected or not, I will, as your Member of Parliament, help bring that across the finish line because that park belongs to all of us," said Gill. " It should not be a divisive issue as far as politics goes." Gill said partisan politics has no place when it comes to the environment or park spaces, and emphasized the need for an fiscally responsible plan for the park that includes local stakeholders and Indigenous communities. "That is the way forward and that is my promise that we shall bring it forward," he said. Watch more from the debate: Windsor West candidates face off in chamber of commerce debate 3 days ago Duration 2:39 Green Party candidate Louay Ahmad said Ojibway is important to him, and questioned the Liberal government's promise to open the park — a promise made before this election began. "I think it's particularly suspicious that in an election year, something so important to us is, as my contemporary here said, is being left up to partisan politics," said Ahmad. "So please ask yourself, if you can't trust these people to protect nature where we're at, how can we trust them to protect nature across our country or around the world?" Liberal candidate Richard Pollock doubled down on his party's pre-election promise. "As we can trust Mark Carney, the United Nations selected him to be the special envoy with respect to the environment, and Mark Carney is committed to opening 10 urban national parks in Canada and 15 new national parks," he said. "But the real fact here is the government, the Liberal government, before the election was called, committed to Ojibway, committed the monies necessary to Ojibway. Ojibway will be open by the end of the year and with your support and your vote, I'll be there to open it." People's Party of Canada candidate Jacob Bezaire wrapped up this section of the debate well: "As far as I'm aware, there's not a single party or person against the Ojibway, so … that's all," said Bezaire. There are two other candidates in Windsor West hoping to grab the seat, who were not invited to the chamber's debate. They are Margaret Villamizar with the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada and Joey Markham with the Communist Party of Canada. Windsor's mayor casts doubt on 2025 opening In March, before the election was called, the federal environment minister visited Windsor to to reaffirm millions in funding for the proposed Ojibway National Urban Park, joined by Chief Nikki van Oirschot of Caldwell First Nation. Steven Guilbeault confirmed $36.1 million in funding over five years for Ojibway National Urban Park, as well as $4.6 million a year in ongoing long-term funding. The funding was first announced in the federal budget last April. Irek Kusmierczyk, who is now seeking re-election as the Liberal MP for Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, promised the park would open this year. He said at the time that Parks Canada would be able to move forward to get the governance agreements in place, to set the boundaries of the park and to complete it and to operate it year after year. Following that announcement, Windsor's Mayor Drew Dilkens took aim at the pace of progress on the park and cast doubt on whether it would be completed in time. "This work needs to happen and I want to reaffirm our commitment to seeing the national urban park happen. We have been proud stewards of this land since 1957," said Dilkens. "There is no way we were walking away or giving up on that prospect today. But we need to see work happen and they can't be hollow pre election promises." A spokesperson for the city said Friday that outstanding issues include "ensuring all associated lands are included within the boundaries of the National Urban Park, formalizing a plan for the city's role with the site and safeguarding barrier-free access to the community in perpetuity." "The city remains committed to working collaboratively toward the development of the ONUP. While progress continues, a number of key items, including those listed above, remain unresolved, and at this time, there are no further updates to share." After the election was called, Masse said that Parks Canada is facing budget and staffing cuts, data that appears to come from a departmental planning report which normally outlines expected staffing levels for the following three years. He noted it's one of the reasons his legislative pathway is best for the property.
Global News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Canada election 2025: Windsor West
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Windsor West is a federal riding located in Ontario. This riding is currently represented by NDP MP Brian Masse who first took office in 2002. Masse collected 21,541 votes, winning 44.24 per cent of the vote in the 2021 federal election. Voters will decide who will represent Windsor West in Ontario during the upcoming Canadian election on April 28, 2025. Visit this page on election night for a complete breakdown of up to the minute results. Candidates NDP: Brian Masse (Incumbent) Liberal: Richard Pollock Conservative: Harb Gill Green: Louay Ahmad People's Party: Jacob Bezaire Communist: Joseph Markham Marxist-Leninist: Margaret Villamizar
