York–Durham voters grill candidates at Uxbridge forum, but Conservative candidate Jacob Mantle is a no-show

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

NORTH DURHAM: It was standing room only at the Uxbridge Arena Community Centre, on the evening of Monday, April 14th, where voters packed the hall to hear from candidates vying to represent York–Durham in the upcoming federal election.

The all-candidates forum, hosted by the Uxbridge Cosmos, drew a large crowd, as dozens stood along the walls, eager to hear from Rob Grossi (Liberal), Justin Graham (NDP), Matt Pearce (Green), and Patricia Conlin (People’s Party of Canada).

Noticeably absent was, Conservative candidate, Jacob Mantle, who declined the invitation, citing prior commitments. In a statement sent to the Cosmos, on Monday morning, Mr. Mantle said he would not attend the Uxbridge forum as he was busy attending "events that matter."

“My priority, throughout this election, remains connecting with residents of the new riding of York–Durham,” the statement read, in part. “I am unable to accept all community meeting and debate invitations.” Mr. Mantle added, he would, instead, attend the Georgina Chamber of Commerce debate, on April 16th, which will be televised. Cosmos publisher, Lisha Van Nieuwenhove read Mr. Mantle’s full statement to the audience, at the start of the evening. The mention of the Georgina event drew eye-rolls and sighs from the crowd.

“He mentioned an event in Sutton which was going to be broadcast on local cable. That’s a doozy of a reason,” said Uxbridge resident Diane Walker after the forum. “The Cosmos livestreamed this on YouTube. Tell me which has greater reach, especially to rural residents, Cable or YouTube? I think he showed a lot, of the kind of MP he’d be, with his disrespect towards North Durham and ducking questions from the community.”

Moderator and Cosmos columnist, Ted Barris kicked things off by looking out over the crowd and quipping, “Who said Uxbridge was apathetic?”

Each candidate was given time for opening remarks.

Mr. Grossi emphasized the stakes of the federal election, calling it “the most important of our lifetime.” He warned about threats to democracy, referencing US President Donald Trump’s influence on global politics.

“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,” he said.

Mr. Pearce, who described himself as the underdog, advocated eliminating income tax on the first $40,000 of earnings and called for a national civil defence force. “I’ve got what it takes for small businesses to survive,” he said.

Mr. Graham kept his introduction brief, stating he was a coach and community volunteer.

Ms. Conlin wasted no time diving into criticisms of the other parties, accusing them of lying to Canadians and stripping rights. She referred to the 2022 Ottawa convoy protesters as “innocent,” and voiced strong opposition to foreign workers.

A wide range of questions followed, from both the Cosmos and members of the audience, touching on housing, international trade, the CBC, abortion, immigration, bail reform, and environmental issues surrounding Lake Simcoe.

On housing, Mr. Grossi stressed the need for creative solutions, including smaller homes, while Mr. Graham noted the NDP’s ambitious target of three million homes by 2030, saying, “If you don’t shoot for the stars, you can't hit the moon.”

Mr. Pearce called for rent controls and restrictions on corporate real estate ownership. “Housing shouldn’t be a commodity,” he said.

Ms. Conlin took a different approach, blaming immigration and high-density housing projects for young people feeling “hopeless.”

When discussion turned to Donald Trump’s tariffs, Mr. Grossi received applause after declaring, “I have no time to discuss anything with that man.”

Mr. Pearce used the topic to advocate for more immigration, while Mr. Graham said the tariffs were a “kick in the butt” for Canada, and Ms. Conlin argued Canada should have negotiated directly with Trump, as other countries did.

On abortion and women's rights, Ms. Conlin diverged from the rest, who affirmed their support for a woman’s right to choose. Ms. Conlin, instead, focused on protecting “women and girls’ spaces” and promoting large families. Ms. Conlin also distanced herself from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, saying she opposed them.

Asked about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), none of the candidates expressed strong support for expanding the program and even encouraged consideration for options. Ms. Conlin criticized Canada’s high MAID rates, Mr. Graham emphasized protections for vulnerable people, and Mr. Pearce advocated for better home care options.

Lake Simcoe was another local issue raised. Mr. Grossi spoke of his opposition to a polluting development, while on York Regional Council, and Mr. Graham called for tougher regulations. Mr. Pearce proposed federal monitoring of the lake, and Ms. Conlin expressed concern about broader water contamination.

The evening closed with a question about each candidate’s vision for Canada. “I want to unify the country,” said Ms. Conlin, blaming both Trudeau and the Conservatives for the country’s problems, pledging to deport criminals.

Mr. Grossi called for “reinvigorating the country” through immigration and cultural diversity. Mr. Pearce offered, Canada must “do better in all things, all the time.” Mr. Graham admitted candidly: “I have no vision.”

Despite the missing Conservative voice, the forum showcased sharp ideological contrasts—and passionate local engagement.

“People showed up in droves,” said attendee Michael Ross. “And Jacob Mantle didn’t. That tells me everything I need to know.”