Election forum draws hundreds - minus one
Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
- Long version -
It was standing room only at the York-Durham all-candidates forum hosted by the Uxbridge Cosmos Monday night at the community centre.
Every chair in the room was used, and late comers packed in around the room to hear Rob Grossi of the Liberals, Justin Graham of the NDP, Matt Pearce of the Green Party and Patricia Conlin of the People's Party of Canada. Conservative Party candidate Jacob Mantle turned down the offer to appear. In a statement to the Cosmos, received late Monday morning, Mantle said he would not attend because he was busy attending "events that matter."
"My priority throughout this election remains connecting with residents of the new riding of York–Durham. I believe that getting to know a new community takes months and years of hard work and that why (sic), since the very first day of being nominated as the Conservative Party candidate over 10 months ago, I have been out in the community, knocking on doors, meeting residents, business owners, and community groups, and attending the events that matter, including Remembrance Day ceremonies, agricultural fairs, and charity and service group meetings."
Watch the entire All Candidates Forum here.
Cosmos publisher Lisha Van Nieuwenhove read all of Mantle's statement, found here, to the audience at the beginning of the forum.
“My thanks to the Cosmos for the invitation to participate in your All Candidates Forum.
My priority throughout this election remains connecting with residents of the new riding of York–Durham. I believe that getting to know a new community takes months and years of hard work and that why (sic), since the very first day of being nominated as the Conservative Party candidate over 10 months ago, I have been out in the community, knocking on doors, meeting residents, business owners, and community groups, and attending the events that matter, including Remembrance Day ceremonies, agricultural fairs, and charity and service group meetings. In that time, I’ve met with thousands of residents and heard their concerns respecting housing, crime, and affordability - the very things that our common sense plan seeks to address.
The election period contains only a limited number of days and therefore I am unable to accept all community meeting and debate invitations. I do, however, recognize the importance of community debates and therefore while I am unable to accept the Cosmos’ (sic) invitation I will be participating in the Georgina Chamber of Commerce Debate, taking place on April 16 at the Link in Sutton. That debate will be televised and publicly broadcast ensuring that residents not only in Uxbridge but also across Georgina, Brock, Port Perry, and Stouffville can hear from their federal candidates, including our common sense Conservative plan to put Canada First.
From my very first days serving Uxbridge on town council 15 years ago, I have supported the Cosmos’s local journalism and I will continue to do so should I be given the honour and responsibility of representing Uxbridge.
Residents are always welcome to contact me directly at support@jacobmantle.ca, many have already and I look forward to hearing from many more before election day.”
In his opening remarks, moderator and Cosmos columnist Ted Barris looked out at the large crowd and remarked: "Who said Uxbridge was apathetic?"
Each candidate was given the opportunity to make their opening remarks. Grossi said this federal election is the most important of our lifetime. Referring to the threats from the Donald Trump administration, Grossi said "democracy is a fragile thing and we need to do all we can to protect it. We have to do all we can to support Canada."
Pearce was up next and told the audience he has "what it takes" for small businesses to survive. Referring to himself as the underdog in the riding, Pearce offered that there should be no income tax on the first $40,000 of earnings. He also advocated a national civil defence force to provide assistance in times of emergency.
Graham kept his remarks extremely short, mentioning that he was a coach and a volunteer.
Conlin was the first to attack, saying other parties have lied to Canadians and taken rights away. She claimed the protesters who shut downtown Ottawa down for weeks during COVID-19 were "innocent protesters," and said she was against foreign workers.
Then followed questions from both the Cosmos and members of the audience. Questions touched in a variety of subjects, including housing, tariffs, Gaza and the CBC.
Grossi offered that he liked some of the ideas coming from the other candidates. "We should discuss things," he said.
Asked about the two different plans offered by the national Liberals and NDP to increase the housing supply, Graham said he didn't think one plan was necessarily better than the other. He said the NDP's goal of building three million homes by 2030 was a "lofty" goal, but added: "If you don’t shoot for the stars, you can't hit the moon." Grossi said that, despite Liberal leader Mark Carney's advocating that the government become a "developer," governments don't necessarily build houses.
"We've got to get creative," he said, adding that small homes would make housing affordable.
Conlin said young people feel "hopeless" when it comes to housing. She said communities have to be protected from high density housing and the housing situation would be helped by a pause on immigration.
Pearce said government should stop corporations from buying up housing and should set rent levels.
"Housing shouldn't be a commodity," he said.
The evening inevitably turned to the Trump administration and the tariffs it has set in place. Conlin said Canada and China are the only countries who haven't sat down to negotiate with Trump. Grossi said Trump has been "blatantly" disrespectful of Canada.
"I have no time to discuss anything with that man," he said, to applause from the audience.
Graham said Canada needs to diversify, referring to the tariffs as "a kick in the butt."
Pearce said Canada needs more immigration.
Throughout the evening the Liberal, Green and NDP candidates called for more immigration and foreign workers. Conlin said several times she was against immigration. On women's rights and abortion, three candidates said they all support a woman's right to choose; Conlin said women and girls’ spaces need to be protected, and women should be encouraged to have large families.
On taxes, Graham said the NDP wants the GST removed from essential products and Conlin said Canadians are overtaxed and the revenue is being "squandered."
On a question about bail reform, Grossi and Graham agreed that it needs to be addressed through judicial reform. Pearce noted that he had had a worker who spent time in prison for a violent crime, but he was reformed and became a good worker. Conlin claimed judges in Canada are biased.
Turning closer to home, a questioner wanted to know how the federal government could protect Lake Simcoe from pollution. Graham said the lake is a top priority and regulations are needed to control what is allowed to be built around the lake. Grossi noted that as a regional councillor in York, he had opposed a project that would have sent pollution into the Holland River. Pearce said the lake should be monitored by the federal Department of Oceans and Fisheries and the Coast Guard to reduce pollution. Conlin offered that "our municipal water is also contaminated."
None of the candidates appeared to be in favour of Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID). Asked about expanding the program to people with disabilities, Graham said the NDP would double disability payments and protect the vulnerable. Conlin said Canada has one of the highst MAID rates and she did not support expanding the program. Pearce said he was for expanding available home care and Grossi merely said "it is a difficult, personal decision."
Returning to the issue of young Canadians, Graham once again pushed the theme of having more young people involved in the trades, Grossi, noting he had a youth council when he was mayor of Georgina, said young people are disillusioned and need to be made part of the solution to the country's problems Pearse also advocated apprenticeshi[s in the trades and said the elimination of income tax on the first $40,000 of earnings would help young people build a nest egg. Conlin said she is against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Asked about their vision for Canada, Conlin said former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau caused our problems and the Conservatives haven't done anything.
"I want to unify the country," she said, adding she would deport criminals.
Grossi said the country needs to be reinvigorated with new people from different cultures and Pearce said the country needs to do better in all things all the time. Graham said he had no vision.