Five-Way Race in Nickel Belt
Party lines blur as federal candidates swap allegiances in newly redrawn riding.
The deadline for candidates to submit their nomination papers for the upcoming federal election was yesterday, and it appears this region will have five candidates to choose from. The newly formed Sudbury East–Manitoulin–Nickel Belt electoral riding, which includes West Nipissing, has expanded its boundary to now include Manitoulin Island.
Liberals: Marc Serré
Incumbent Marc Serré is seeking to win his fourth straight election. After stumbling in the polls over the last year, his new party leader, Mark Carney, has given his local campaign renewed momentum. Serré has faced significant criticism locally over the past year for his support of the controversial firearms legislation Bill C-21, the federal carbon tax, and, more recently, for the revocation of his Indigenous status.
Share of votes in 2021: 31.9%
Conservatives: Jim Bélanger
The local Conservatives held a tight nomination race earlier this year to choose their 2025 candidate. Himmal Hossain, vetted by the Conservative Party of Canada and campaigning since last year, was challenged by a late entrant—local businessman Jim Bélanger. Bélanger edged out Hossain and has since led a campaign light on personal details, instead focusing on party leader Pierre Poilievre’s national messages and targeting Carney’s Liberal past.
Bélanger previously ran politically when he sought the Liberal nomination against Serré. He told Sudbury.com last month that his main reason for switching parties now was the Liberals’ carbon tax—a key promise from Serré, himself and the party during the 2015 campaign.
The Conservatives hope to build on their second-place finish in the last election, when Charles Humphrey represented them.
Share of votes in 2021 (Charles Humphrey): 27.2%
Greens: Himmal Hossain
Trying to mimic the apparent CPC strategy, the Greens are also going with someone from the other side of the political spectrum. After failing to secure the Conservative nomination, Himmal Hossain successfully sought the Green Party’s candidacy.
During his 2024 Conservative campaign, Hossain emphasized public safety, immigration reform, individual responsibility, and abolishing the carbon tax. As a Green Party candidate, his platform has shifted to focus primarily on reducing fossil fuel dependency.
Share of votes in 2021 (Craig Gravelle): 1.7%
People’s Party of Canada (PPC): Shari St-Louis
The PPC is looking to build on its momentum from the 2021 campaign, when it secured 9.1% of the vote. Frequently scrutinized by the media for its stance on COVID-era mandates, 'wokeism,' and immigration, the PPC has recruited a prominent influencer to lead its local campaign."
Shari St-Louis, who recently settled in the French River area, is the former president of the Canadian chapter of Children’s Health Defence, an organization founded by U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The group advocates for eliminating toxic exposure in order to end childhood health epidemics.
Share of votes in 2021 (David Hobbs): 9.1%
NDP: Andréane Chenier
Andréane Chenier will once again represent the NDP in the riding. A national representative for CUPE, Chenier was a last-minute candidate in 2021 but has had a head start this time, launching her campaign in January. She hopes to turn the region orange once more—the NDP held Nickel Belt from 2008 to 2015 and from 1984 to 1993.
Share of votes in 2021: 26.6%
The Canadian federal elections are being held April 28th.
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Good synopsis.
The list is flawed and incomplete. It lacks the biggest party and it's leadership. 23 million non voters no longer have confidence in the corrupt redundancy and no longer feed the systems that no longer work for Canadians. Only 17 million believe it still works making them the broken they maintain. Sovereign Independent Canadians without a country until better can be found.