Sudbury organizations to host several federal election forums this month ahead of the vote

Sudbury Indie Cinema to host town hall to discuss social issues in the upcoming federal election with the public and local candidates invited to take part.

With the federal election set for April 28, 2025, Greater Sudbury organizations are hosting town halls and debates to engage candidates and voters on key issues, including social equity, housing, and economic policy.

The YWCA Sudbury and Genevra House will co-host a town hall on social issues on April 9 at 6 p.m. at Sudbury Indie Cinema, focusing on gender-based violence, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, immigration barriers, homelessness, and childcare.

“We want to ensure that our future government is committed to the provision of services that provide essential supports to women and gender-diverse individuals and their families,” said YWCA Sudbury’s executive director Marlene Gorman.

Panelists include:

• Stacy Woods from Drag the Vote Campaign speaking on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.
• Adebola Adefioye of the Afro Women and Youth Foundation talking about immigrant/refugee challenges.
• Raymond Landry with the Homelessness Network speaking on housing insecurity.
• Tracy Saarikoski from Discovery Early Learning & Care talking about affordable childcare.

Gorman said she is urging voters to participate in the election, emphasizing that social policies “respond to intimate partner violence and ending violence, of every sort. And racism… we value diversity, equality, and inclusion.”

The event aims to empower attendees to question candidates critically before voting.

Why it matters

The YWCA/Genevra House town hall highlights often-overlooked social issues amid national debates on tariffs and annexation.

“These services are critically important to health and the economy, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the YWCA noted in a news release.

Other election forums

CARP all-candidates meeting

Voters in Sudbury and Sudbury East–Manitoulin–Nickel Belt will have a chance to hear from federal candidates at an all-parties meeting on Friday, April 11.

The event, hosted by the Sudbury chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), will take place at 1:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s United Church on York Street.

Candidates from the Liberal, Conservative, NDP, and Green parties have been invited to participate.

Attendees will hear opening and closing remarks from candidates, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Representatives from other parties will also be available at information tables, should they choose to attend.

The forum will be moderated by Mark Gentili and will focus on key election issues such as housing, health care, the environment, and Canada-U.S. relations.

Those wishing to submit questions in advance can do so by email.

Chamber events

The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce will host back-to-back federal election candidate panel discussions next week for the city’s two ridings, offering voters a chance to hear from contenders ahead of the upcoming vote.

On Tuesday, April 15, candidates from the Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt riding will participate in a moderated discussion at the Centennial Arena Community Centre in the community of Hanmer from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

The following evening, April 16, candidates for the Sudbury riding will take part in a similar event at Collège Boréal’s Salle Trisac during the same time frame.

Both events will feature candidate remarks followed by an audience question-and-answer session. The chamber has invited only candidates from main political parties, consistent with its policies.

The chamber panels aim to inform voters ahead of the federal election.

All of these events are free and open to the public.

For more information on northern Ontario election issues and ridings, visit our dedicated news page.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Amanda Hicks