With an election call looming, Conservative candidate for Newmarket-Aurora Sandra Cobena opened her campaign office today.
The office opening comes the day before new Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to announce he’s calling a federal election.
“For us, our campaign has always been based on we're going to be working hard, as if we are behind,” said Cobena, who was nominated by the local riding association in December 2023. “And to us, the only polls that matter are the polls on election day. So, the principles of the campaign have remained the same — it's hard work, connecting with people, and actually listening to what is top of mind for them.”
During a speech to supporters at her campaign office on Main Street in Newmarket, Cobena talked about concerns she had heard from residents while door-knocking, including affordability, the cost of housing, and crime rates.
“The Liberals have left generations behind. They have left my generation behind, they have left my children's generation behind,” she said. “And I don't say this with anger. I say this with sadness, because our generation cannot afford a home, we cannot dream about starting a business."
“When you look around, businesses are shutting down, you see some of the shops on Main Street, they're empty. We, in fact, cannot even dream the way our parents did, because it all feels so unattainable,” she said.
Cobena said a Conservative government would build houses, cut taxes, and end “catch and release bail and finally support our police.”
Cobena works as a commercial banker and graduated from the London School of Economics. She has volunteered for Conservative campaigns since 2006 and is also married to former federal party vice-president Matthijs van Gaalen.
Liberal party candidate for Newmarket-Aurora Jennifer McLachlan marked the opening of her election office, also on Main Street in Newmarket, earlier this month. Other parties are still yet to announce candidates for the upcoming election.
Newmarket-Aurora will have a new MP after this election, with incumbent Liberal MP Tony Van Bynen retiring once the term ends.
Van Bynen was first elected in 2019. He won re-election in the last federal election in 2021, attaining 43.8 per cent of the vote while Conservative candidate Harold Kim won 38.3 per cent.
The Cobena team’s campaign office is located at 171 Main St. S. in Newmarket.