We have reached out to local candidates and asked them a series of questions that are on the mind of voters across the riding. Topics range from what they’re hearing at the door, positions on the trade war, cost of living pressures and more.
Here’s what they had to say, in their own words.
Justin Leroux
Libertarian Party of Canada
Tell us about yourself
I am a husband, small business owner, systems engineer, and a licensed funeral director. I live with multiple sclerosis and understand firsthand the challenges families face navigating our healthcare system. My career spans planning critical infrastructure for businesses to supporting grieving families through some of their hardest moments. In both, I have been trusted to guide others through complex, emotional situations with honesty, compassion, and respect. I have worked alongside First Nations communities, police services, and healthcare providers, building bridges where systems often fall short. I am running because I believe our region deserves a stronger voice, one that puts people before politics. Our community has been promised change for 158 years, but real change can only come when we put individuals, families, and local communities back at the heart of decision-making. I am proud to stand for the people of Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, not party lines.
What are you hearing when door-knocking?
At the doors, I hear a lot of anger and fear and rightfully so. Families are stretched thin by the rising cost of living. Seniors worry about whether they can afford to stay in their homes. Young people question if there’s a future here at all. Many feel abandoned by governments that make big promises but seem out of touch with real struggles.
But when I share our guiding principles; putting people first, limiting government interference, protecting your right to build a better life ;I see something shift: hope. People light up when they hear that someone is fighting for them, not for party insiders or Ottawa lobbyists. They want less red tape, lower taxes, more local control, and real accountability.
The frustration is real, but so is the belief that if we change the way we think about government, we can finally put power back where it belongs: in the hands of the people.
What would you do about cost of living pressures in your riding?
The cost of living is not just a statistic; it is children, parents, and seniors going hungry while Ottawa plays politics. In our riding, families are making impossible choices between paying bills and putting food on the table. That is unacceptable.
As an independent voice, I will work with any party willing to reduce taxes, cut red tape, and open the door for real solutions. I will not stop pushing until we make life affordable again. We must end the policies that drive up costs and punish hard work.
Housing, groceries, fuel, and basic services should not be out of reach for ordinary Canadians. Real change starts by putting power and decision-making back into the hands of families and communities. I am ready to work with anyone to make that happen, because no child, no parent, no senior should be left behind.
Why should someone vote for you?
Housing affordability and homelessness are serious issues in our riding. Government red tape has restricted housing supply and driven up prices. We must reduce unnecessary regulations, open more land for responsible development, and support a wider range of housing options.
Federal support should go directly to individuals, not bureaucracies. We must encourage public-private partnerships and allow solutions like modular homes, tiny homes, and community-led projects.
I will work to cut barriers, respect property rights, and support local solutions that deliver real results. Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.
What is your position on tariffs and the trade war?
Tariffs are taxes on Canadian families disguised as economic policy. They raise prices on food, fuel, housing materials, and basic necessities, hurting the very people government claims to help. The so-called trade wars have been political battles fought on the backs of working Canadians.
Ottawa has failed to protect our interests by treating trade like a political bargaining chip instead of a critical part of our economy. Here in Northern Ontario, we know better. Our businesses, farmers, and workers rely on strong, fair access to markets.
I support eliminating unnecessary tariffs and focusing on open, voluntary trade that respects Canadian producers and consumers. We should be making it easier, not harder, to work, build, and grow in this country. In Parliament, I will fight for trade policies that create real opportunity, not more government-made crises.
What are potential solutions to housing affordability and homelessness?
Housing affordability and homelessness are growing crises across Canada, including here in our riding. Government red tape has restricted housing supply and driven prices out of reach.
We must reduce unnecessary regulations, open land for responsible development, and empower communities to make decisions that fit their needs. Federal support for homelessness should focus directly on individuals, not costly bureaucracies.
We must encourage public-private partnerships, support a variety of housing options, and remove barriers that prevent young people and families from owning or renting a home. Solutions must be local, flexible, and focused on outcomes.
I will work to increase housing supply, protect property rights, and ensure support reaches those who need it most. Every Canadian deserves the dignity of a safe and affordable place to call home.
Are there any final thoughts on any topic that you would like to share?
For 158 years and 44 federal elections, our country has been promised change that never truly comes. The cost of living keeps rising, healthcare wait times grow longer, and opportunities for young people continue to shrink. Ottawa has lost touch with the people it serves.
No vote is ever wasted when it is cast with hope for something better. Real change will not come from the same two and a half party machine that has failed us for generations. It will come from people standing up and choosing a new path.
I will work across party lines to put people first and bring decision-making back to our communities. Together, we can build a future that respects our rights, lowers our burdens, and trusts Canadians to shape their own lives. It’s not about the party, its about people.
