• Patricia Conlin, a business owner, author, and speaker, is the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate in York–Durham.
  • Following her party’s hard-line stance on immigration, she supports an immigration pause to relieve pressure on housing, health care, and affordability.
  • Conlin rejects anti-American rhetoric and supports a negotiated “win-win” trade deal with the U.S. to avoid a tariff war.
  • She calls for sweeping tax cuts and a revival of domestic manufacturing, and her health care platform includes rehiring workers fired during the pandemic.
  • Supporting municipal autonomy on development issues, the PPC candidate opposes federal pressure on existing communities to pursue growth and intensification.
  • She supports exiting the Paris Accord and net zero goals in favour of localized environmental efforts and infrastructure upgrades.

 

Bullet Point News asked the five registered York–Durham candidates to respond to a series of questions on key federal issues. Focusing on their platforms and how they would affect the riding, each candidate’s responses are being shared in the order received.

A longtime small business owner, author, and international speaker, Patricia Conlin has put her name forward as the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate in the riding of York–Durham.

Born and raised in Markham, where she lived until 2003 while operating Global Consulting Group Inc., Conlin later moved to Scugog with her late husband. There, the couple purchased a car dealership and raised their two sons—experiences that she says strengthened her commitment to community, economic resilience, and personal freedom.

“I would like to be the champion who prioritizes the needs of citizens in this riding,” Conlin said. “I will protect Constitutional rights, precious farmland, parks, lakes, wetlands, heritage, and our quality of life.”

At the time of publishing, responses were received from four York-Durham candidates: Robert Grossi (Liberal), Matt Pearce (Green), Patricia Conlin (PPC), and Justin Graham (NDP). No response has been received from Conservative candidate Jacob Mantle or his campaign.

 

Party Leadership

Q: While Bullet Point News tends to focus on policy, we know there is a large percentage of voters who make their voting decision based on party leaders. What’s your pitch for yours?

“Maxime Bernier is a man of conviction and courage. He has spoken out to protect Constitutional rights for over eight years after leaving the Conservative Party, is a lawyer, and has extensive private sector experience in the banking sector.

Maxime has been a strong advocate for lower immigration and removal of climate taxes, and he not only understands how the world works but has insights that others don’t. We will tackle the root causes of our most challenging issues.

The PPC is the only party that allows its candidates to vote their conscience, so they can always fight to do the right thing for their unique ridings. It is time for a truly fresh approach.”

Tariffs & Trade

Q: How would your party deal with President Trump and his tariffs and economic threats, and what policies will you pursue to provide relief should the worst economic outcomes be realized?

“The PPC understands that a trade war will be devastating to our economy and will raise prices for already struggling Canadians. Instead of counter tariffs, we will work to sit down with the U.S. and negotiate a fair, win-win trade deal.

The U.S. is our largest trading partner, closest neighbour, and strongest ally. We need to reject anti-American talk and negotiate a good deal for Canada to protect jobs and the economy. Many people are angry with Trump, but we have to put that aside to keep prices low.

We also believe in cutting red tape to increase interprovincial trade and restoring our made-in-Canada manufacturing sector. Building an east-west pipeline will open new markets for our ethically produced oil and gas.

The PPC proposes significant relief for businesses and consumers. That includes lower income and corporate taxes, removal of the capital gains tax, and elimination of the carbon tax. We will promote buying Canadian and buying local.”

The Economy & Job Growth 

Q: With new economic challenges stemming from the U.S., what is your vision for developing Canada’s economy, and how would your party’s policies support job creation and innovation while ensuring benefits are distributed equitably across regions and demographics?

“I am passionate about protecting Canadian jobs and building a strong economy in York–Durham. I will advance tax incentives and repatriate manufacturing, eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, ignite our resource sector, build pipelines, and fuel job growth.

Reducing red tape and over-regulation will boost innovation, strengthen competitiveness, and promote meaningful employment. Lowering taxes will help our resource sector, farmers, and businesses thrive. Eliminating the inheritance tax for farmers, for example, will help preserve intergenerational farms.”

Affordability & Inflation

Q: What specific policies would your party implement to help address affordability issues and provide relief while also addressing long-term fiscal and economic stability?

“The PPC will reduce wasteful spending, foreign conflict funding, and money printing to lower inflation and food costs and solve the growing poverty crisis. Lower income taxes will help families save, and removing all carbon taxes will increase affordability for both consumers and businesses.

We will also negotiate a win-win trade deal with the U.S. instead of engaging in a trade war to ensure prices stay affordable for everyday products and building materials.”

Immigration

Q: High immigration rates have played a role in the intensification of Canada’s housing crisis, however it is well recognized that immigration is crucial to our long-term economic outlook and desired growth trajectory. What would a PPC government’s immigration policy look like, and how will those concerns be balanced?

“The PPC’s immigration policy will prioritize the needs of Canadian citizens and communities. I would begin with a pause on immigration to restore affordability and ensure access to essential services like housing and health care.

I would also work to deport criminals and illegals who do not respect our country or who are engaged in drug trafficking. We must better screen immigrants to ensure they intend to contribute to our economy, respect Canadian values, and speak at least one official language.

If the root causes of sharply declining native population growth aren’t addressed, immigration is masking a more fundamental problem. We need to encourage family formation and support it at all levels, and offering financial support to mothers who choose to stay home is an option I will promote.

If young couples see a pathway to financial security and home ownership, they are more likely to start families. So I will work hard to reduce their taxes, reduce the cost of living, and find ways to make home ownership a reality for them.”

The Housing Crisis

Q: What combination of federal policies are you and your party proposing to address both housing affordability and the need for supply in such a challenging macroeconomic environment?

“Again, unsustainable immigration is straining housing and healthcare systems. Balancing immigration with economic needs is critical to making housing more affordable and services more accessible in York–Durham. Pausing immigration is therefore critical and needed.

We will work to curb inflation, keeping interest rates and mortgage payments low. We respect municipal autonomy and oppose federal pressure to densify established neighbourhoods of detached homes to install high-density housing that accommodates mass immigration policies.

We will collaborate with provinces to curb speculation and money laundering by foreign buyers in the land and housing markets. Additionally, balancing the landlord-tenant relationship will help restore trust and may activate a significant number of basement units to relieve pressure.”

Healthcare

Q: What concrete steps would your party take to strengthen Ontario’s healthcare system?

“Canada’s public healthcare system holds the distinction of having the worst wait times of any developed country. High immigration levels are increasing demand for access, and our policy to pause immigration will provide relief.

I will advocate for reinstating health professionals terminated during Covid, with full back pay. I will defend informed choice and patient privacy, and repeal Bill C-47, which threatens access to natural supplements. I will ensure that drug regulators like Health Canada do their job, and associations respect doctor-patient privacy and allow them to uphold their oath to first do no harm.

Many of our growing medical needs are inflicted by declining food quality and poor diets and lifestyle. I support integrated medical models that will restore healthier communities, healthy food initiatives, and boosting mental health. Finally, I will advocate for free forest access to promote mental and physical wellness.”

Climate Change

Q: With the consumer carbon tax now removed, what climate policies would you and your party champion that will drive down emissions without excess economic consequences?

“The PPC would withdraw from the Paris Accord and eliminate net zero policies that are unrealistic and costly, investing instead in cleanup of toxic substances in our environment, including our lakes and farmland.

I will advocate for more climate resilient infrastructure, more local farming, an incentive strategy for greater construction efficiency, and modern and reliable passenger rail.

We will also push for the safe transport of oil with new pipelines and would repeal Bill C-69 to get them built across Canada. This would promote lower energy prices and increase Canadian sovereignty instead of relying on importing oil from far away countries on dangerous tankers.

As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, I support regenerative farming and public education on small-scale organic gardening, which can strengthen food security during extreme weather events.”

Supporting Municipalities 

Q: Municipalities continue to struggle with downloaded responsibilities and costs while facing the prospect of Development Charge revenue cuts to incentivize new housing. What will your government do to support municipalities and ensure growth-related costs are not put onto existing property taxpayers?

“​​I will fight to make sure any critical infrastructure project receives federal support to ensure property taxes stay low for residents.

The urgency of municipal infrastructure needs will decline if immigration policy is guided by a ‘citizens first’ approach. With a pause on immigration, the burden of affordable housing will be reduced as existing properties become available for rent or purchase.

We also need a realistic, ‘tough love’ approach to deal with growing drug addiction, which is driving homelessness and the need for more subsidized housing. I will fight to stop safe supply sites near our children and allow police officers to enforce the law, stopping criminals and keeping our streets and neighbourhoods safe.”

The Pickering Airport Lands

Q: What is your and your party’s position on the decision to cancel the Pickering Airport and move a majority of the lands into the Rouge National Urban Park? If elected, would that direction change?

“I would respect and protect the decision to move a majority of the lands into the Rouge. I will always work to protect greenspaces from over-development.”