Former Green party candidate Brock Grills has endorsed Conservative Michael Skinner.

"I've worked with Mike in business through the Innovation Cluster and know that he is ethical, he works hard, he's compassionate and he is firm but fair," Grills wrote in a statement Wednesday. "These are all qualities that make him a great advocate for Peterborough and those are more than enough reasons for me to support Mike in what could be the most important election ever. I will work with Mike's campaign team to achieve the best outcome for Peterborough and I hope many others out there will consider doing the same."

Grills stepped down as the Green candidate this summer.

His statement:

Public Service is hard work.

Putting your name forward to run for office brings with it a huge responsibility and, as I've found out, it can be exhilarating as well as deeply disappointing.

I entered politics because I wanted to make a positive change for Peterborough. It's my hometown and I want to live and work here close to my family and friends.

I've always believed -- more so now than ever -- that the ideal MP is open to the best ideas regardless of party politics and is prepared to take positive action to turn those ideas into reality.

That said, I am endorsing Michael Skinner as the best person to serve Peterborough-Kawartha as our Member of Parliament.

Mike has earned my respect as a person who keeps the commitments he makes. Mike is open to new ideas and innovation. He respects other opinions -- even if he doesn't always agree with them.

I have worked with politicians from different parties including Maryam Monsef, the NDP and, of course, the Greens. I have seen the different approaches, the ideologies and learned a lot from each party, including Mike, who has been running as a Conservative since 2015.

Mike has always offered his insights freely and he has been respectful of the fact that some of my positions contrast with his own.

I am worried about the growing intensity of partisan politics in this country, and the lack of civil conversation about it. Peterborough needs inclusive representation that will transcend party lines. I believe Mike is, and will be, inclusive of all voices including our most vulnerable.

I've worked with Mike in business through the Innovation Cluster and know that he is ethical, he works hard, he's compassionate and he is firm but fair. These are all qualities that make him a great advocate for Peterborough and those are more than enough reasons for me to support Mike in what could be the most important election ever.

I've made my choice. It was not easy. I will continue to hold true to my position on serious environmental and social issues. I will work with Mike's campaign team to achieve the best outcome for Peterborough and I hope many others out there will consider doing the same.

Candidates talk issues in Campbellford

Candidates running in Northumberland-Peterborough South will sit down for a moderated question-and-answer session after a meet-and-greet in Campbellford Monday.

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The event runs from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Campbellford District High School.

The Northumberland-Peterborough South riding includes the Peterborough County municipalities of Asphodel-Norwood and Otonabee-South Monaghan, in addition to Trent Hills, Alnwick-Haldimand, Port Hope, Cobourg and other parts of Northumberland County.

Candidates include Liberal incumbent Kim Rudd, Conservative Philip Lawrence, Jeff Wheeldon of the Green party and Frank Vaughan of the People's Party of Canada. The NDP choose a candidate Friday night.

The Lead

Want help making sense of this fall's federal election? There's a new newsletter that you might like.

It's called The Lead, and it'll be your guide to all the latest election news from across the country, written and collected by veteran political journalist Kady O'Malley.

Sign up for The Lead at www.thepeterboroughexaxaminer.com today to make sure you don't miss an edition.

And remember to visit www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/Vote2019 for the latest breaking election-related news stories from Peterborough and across the country.

To have your election-related news included in our daily notebook, email news@peterboroughdaily.com.

To have your election-related news included in our daily notebook, email news@peterboroughdaily.com .