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Orléans
MPP Marie-France Lalonde is considering whether or not
to take a run at the federal Liberal nomination in the
local riding. FILE PHOTO |
It's official,
Orléans MPP Marie-France Lalonde is running for the federal
Liberal nomination that is up for grabs after the recent
decision by Liberal incumbent Andrew Leslie to step down.
Lalonde
announced her intention to seek the nomination in a press
release on Monday. In it, she says that she made the decision
after a great deal of "soul-searching�.
"It is
no secret that I was considering a run to be the next leader
of the provincial Liberal Party,� Lalonde states, referring
to the position left vacant when Kathleen Wynne resigned
following the Liberals devastating defeat in last year's
provincial election.
"When
Andrew announced his decision I realized that my desire
to serve our community was my top priority. I am seeking
the Liberal nomination to be a strong voice for Orléans
at the federal level... I want to fight for Orléans and
deal with issues that matter to us � as employees, as citizens,
for growth, for jobs and for a prosperous community.�
Lalonde
is the first person to throw her hat into the ring thus
far. There may be others and she is looking forward to a
competitive nomination process.
Just when
that process will begin is any body's guess.
The federal
riding association must first officially announce the process
is open and then set a deadline for prospective candidates
to register their intention to run. If no one puts their
name forward, Lalonde will be acclaimed. If someone does,
then they will go through the process of selling memberships,
culminating in a nomination meeting where the successful
nominee will be selected.
Lalonde
was first elected to the provincial legislature in 2014
when she replaced Phil McNeely who retired after serving
nearly 12 years.
After
serving as the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of
Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure for
two years, Lalonde was appointed to Cabinet in June 2015
as the Minister of Government and Community Services and
the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs. She served
in that capacity until the former Liberal government was
defeated last spring and was one of only six Liberal members
to survive the Conservative landslide.
Lalonde
can remain as an MPP through the nomination process and
right up until the writ is dropped, likely in late August
or early September, assuming she wins the nomination. One
of the things Lalonde took into consideration in making
her decision was her family.
As an
MPP, she spends four days a week in Toronto from Monday
to Thursday. Thursday and Sunday afternoons are set aside
for traveling between Queens Park and the riding. If she
were to win a seat in the House of Commons she would get
to spend more time with her husband and their daughter Monica.
It will also allow her to spend more time in the riding.
But her
main reason for running is to try and ensure the riding
stays in Liberal hands.
"This
riding is important and if you look at what Ford is doing
provincially, we need to make sure his federal twin Andrew
Scheer doesn't get to adopt the same reckless cuts and wasteful
spending as his provincial counterpart,� says Lalonde who
wants to continue to represent her constituents only in
a different capacity.
"In the
past five years, I've enjoyed every single minute representing
the residents of Orléans at Queen's Park and I want to continue
to be that voice only at the federal level.�
If she
were to win the Liberal nomination, she will face whoever
gets the nod for the Conservatives. The Conservative nomination
race appears is between former Liberal David Bertschi and
retired Armed Forces officer Gerry Potter and cyber security
consultant Will Hickie.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)