• Local campaign events for Ontario’s 2025 election were limited, with no all-candidates meetings held in Stouffville and only one meet-and-greet taking place in Markham.
  • That Feb. 19 gathering was attended by just two of five registered candidates.
  • ​​Progressive Conservatives have prioritized door-to-door canvassing over attending debates, with Premier Doug Ford suggesting direct voter outreach is a better use of campaign time.
  • Liberal candidate Kelly Dunn criticized the lack of public engagement, arguing that candidate meetings are essential for voters to connect with those running and be heard.
  • Community turnout at the meeting was low, with only 33 voters attending.
  • Attendees expressed disappointment in the lack of candidate participation, citing concerns over accessibility and accountability.
  • Advance voting turnout in Markham-Stouffville reached 6.55% of the riding’s electorate, surpassing Ontario’s average of 6.14%.

 

6,782 Markham-Stouffville residents—6.55% of the riding’s electorate—voted at advance polling locations between Feb. 20 and Feb. 22. While this figure does not include ballots cast at the Markham election office, the riding outpaced Ontario’s average early voting turnout of 6.14%.

This year’s snap election offered just three days of advance voting, a significant reduction from the 10-day period in 2022. While this represents a 70% decrease in early voting opportunity, higher per-day participation resulted in just a 36% drop in overall advance polling turnout.

In addition to fewer early voting days, local public campaign events were also limited ahead of Thursday’s election. No debate or all-candidates meeting was held in Stouffville, and just one meet-and-greet took place in Markham at the Village Library.

Kelly Dunn of the Ontario Liberal Party and Brendan Sorenson of the New Blue Party were the only attending candidates.

Markham Public Library began planning the Feb. 19 meeting immediately after the election was called. Though the event was rescheduled from Feb. 12 due to poor weather, invitations were sent to candidates as they registered to ensure ample time to participate.

Incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Paul Calandra and Myles O’Brien of the Green Party of Ontario sent their regrets for both the original and rescheduled meetings. Gregory Hines of Ontario’s New Democrats planned to attend the Feb. 12 meet-and-greet but was unable to join on the new date.

The Progressive Conservative Party has stated its candidates would prioritize meeting voters at their doors, suggesting this is a more effective use of their time than attending local debates.

“I would rather have our candidates door-knocking, hitting 400-500 doors…getting signs, getting support, IDing the vote, and getting people to vote,” PC leader Doug Ford said during a campaign stop in Windsor on Wednesday. “I’m the one who makes that decision.”

Dunn disagrees, and she questioned why a candidate would forgo an opportunity to engage voters in a public forum.

“To me, local candidate meetings and debates are incredibly important. This is an amazing opportunity to get to know people and for them to get to know you,” she said. “It helps us understand the real issues at the grassroots level and better represent them in the Legislature.”

“In fact, we need more of that,” Dunn added. “Elected officials are often inaccessible, and that needs to change. People should feel like they can connect with those they elect and trust their concerns will be taken forward—as the system is meant to do.”

Declining candidate participation at these events is a growing concern, and Markham Public Library has struggled in past elections to ensure all registered parties are represented. To foster a more welcoming atmosphere and attract new audiences, organizers opted for a meet-and-greet format over a debate.

“We’ve been disappointed that one party has not participated in past events, so we looked to do something different to help get voters better informed,” Diane Macklin, Markham Public Library’s Director of Community Engagement, said in comments to Bullet Point News. “We tried very hard to get all the candidates to attend this year.”

Despite their efforts, low candidate participation was mirrored by poor community turnout—just 33 Markham-Stouffville residents attended. After meeting the candidates, Bullet Point News spoke with attendees about the event’s importance and its format. Most wished to remain anonymous.

One Markham resident, hoping to discuss landlord-tenant concerns, left underwhelmed, disappointed that he could only speak with two candidates. In his opinion, such campaign stops are important opportunities for residents to learn more about who is on the ballot.

“Debates and all-candidate meetings are an opportunity for residents to ask the questions that matter most to them, and those candidates can’t just say ‘no comment’ or ignore the issue,” he said.

Lucy, another Markham resident, said candidate attendance—or lack thereof—does impact her voting decisions.

“Candidates have a choice whether they want to be here or not, and taking advantage of this is completely up to them,” she said. “But it also speaks to how committed they are to engaging with their constituents, at least pre-election.”

She also appreciated the meet-and-greet format over a traditional debate. “I get a chance to ask more of my own questions, so it feels more personal,” she told us. “A debate is something that can be televised or covered by the media, but maybe my questions won’t be asked.”

That opinion was echoed by another attendee, who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet candidates face-to-face. “You’re getting to see the content of their character,” he said.

For him, debates often devolve into unproductive confrontations rather than discussions about proactive solutions for the riding and province.

“We are the ones who will need to deal with these issues, so it should be us asking the questions,” he said. “If you’re going to be a leader, you need to take accountability. If you’re pointing fingers at others, you’re not explaining what you’re actually going to do to fix the problem.”

He also offered sharp criticism of those who didn’t attend.

“Why would you want to be in power if you’re not interested in simply talking with the public?” he asked rhetorically. “Are they trying to avoid questions? It’s a red flag.”