I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with our newest Member of Parliament, Jacob Mantle, who represents the newly created riding of York-Durham. By GTA standards, the riding is geographically large, though its population, approximately 120,000 constituents, is consistent with most federal ridings.

While some MPs across Canada represent much larger districts, the creation of York-Durham marked a significant change for local communities. Rapid growth in both York Region and Durham Region, meant Ontario gained additional seats in Parliament. One of those seats was formed by combining northern York and northern Durham into this new riding, which includes Port Perry.

Jacob Mantle surprised many observers on election night by defeating Rob Grossi, the long-serving mayor of Keswick, who had held that position for many years. Not only did Mantle win, he did so decisively, capturing the seat by a margin of more than 11,000 votes.

As Jacob put it, “For the first time in my life, I can say that the Conservative Party has become the party of youth.” Certainly an unusual shift given its historical reputation.

Now in his twenties, Jacob Mantle is far from new to politics. At just 21, he ran for council in Uxbridge and won.

“I was probably the youngest councillor elected,” he recalled. “It felt like being thrown into the deep end, but I had volunteered on campaigns and studied politics at university. I felt council could benefit from a younger voice. It took time to earn respect, but I had excellent mentorship, especially from then-mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor.”

After his term on council, Mantle chose not to seek re-election and instead returned to Queen’s University to complete his law degree. He began his legal career at Bennett Jones in Toronto, where he gained experience in corporate and trade law, an area he had not initially planned to pursue, but one that provided a strong professional foundation.

I asked whether that background prepared him for politics. “Absolutely,” he said. “Law is about solving problems. Clients do not care how it gets done, they just want solutions. Politics is similar. People come to you with issues and expect results. Being able to absorb and analyze large amounts of information quickly is invaluable.”

Housing is one of Mantle’s most immediate concerns. As a relatively young MP, he brings first-hand insight into the challenges of entering today’s housing market. For many under 40, home ownership feels increasingly out of reach.

“Average salaries no longer buy average homes,” he said. “There is a myth that young people are not working hard enough or just need to cut out a latte a day. That is simply not true. The system is broken.”

So how does it get fixed?

“The federal government does not build homes,” Mantle explained, “but it can incentivize provinces and municipalities. Development charges are a major factor, up to $80,000 for a single lot in places like Scugog. Those costs drive prices higher. One solution would be population-based housing targets, with incentives for municipalities that meet them.”

Mantle’s roots in the area run deep. He is a seventh-generation resident of North Durham. His ancestor, Stephen Mantle, arrived from Wales in the 1840s, and the family has remained in the region ever since.

“My dad is passionate about preserving our family history,” Mantle said. “It is grounding to know where you come from.”

Jacob Mantle, along with his wife Megan, and their newborn daughter, is clearly committed to using his education, experience, and feedback from constituents, to bring issues such as housing and crime to the forefront of the political conversation.

His background in trade law has taken him to places as far-flung as Egypt and South Korea, providing a global perspective that is increasingly relevant in today’s political environment.

We wish Jacob Mantle every success as he represents our community, and look forward to seeing positive outcomes.