With time ticking down until the next federal election campaign begins, only one party in Newmarket-Aurora has nominated its candidate.
The Conservative Party of Canada’s local riding association nominated Sandra Cobena in December 2023. But with an election looming October 2025 at the latest, no other party has declared a candidate in the local riding.
Newmarket-Aurora Liberal MP Tony Van Bynen announced his pending retirement March 11 once this term ends. Local party association official Matt Gunning said their search for a candidate continues.
“The Liberal Party is still conducting an open search process and speaking with potential candidates,” Gunning said. “We expect to have a vote to select a candidate sometime before the end of the year.”
The next federal election stands to be in 2025 if the current Liberal-NDP coalition holds. Either the Liberals or NDP could feasibly force an election before then, though the Conservative Party is currently well ahead in polls.
NewmarketToday did not receive a reply to a request for comment from the federal NDP and could not find any evidence of an active constituency association.
The last federal election was Sept. 20, 2021. With incumbent Tony Van Bynen set to run again, the Conservatives, NDP and Green parties had nominated their candidates — Conservative Harold Kim, NDP Yvonne Kelly and Green Tim Flemming — in August of that year.
Cobena is a commercial banker who said she has volunteered for Conservative campaigns since 2006. She is also married to former federal party vice-president Matthijs van Gaalen.
According to X posts, Cobena has been canvassing this summer.
“We want a (Conservative) government who will restore Canada into a thriving & respected nation,” Cobena said July 31 after canvassing with youth Conservatives.
