Ontario Liberal Party selects Greater Sudbury councillor as Nickel Belt candidate

A Greater Sudbury city councillor has announced she will be running as the Ontario Liberal Party representative for Nickel Belt.

Greater Sudbury Ward 7 Coun. Natalie Labbée has been named the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for the Nickel Belt riding in the upcoming provincial election on Feb. 27.

Labbée made the announcement on social media Friday evening and in her posts, she pledged to continue putting Ward 7 residents first.

“I feel I still have so many things I want to accomplish as Ward 7 councillor and projects that I want to champion and see through, but maybe I can make an even bigger impact in ensuring that Greater Sudbury and Nickel Belt get our fair share (and not just at election time),” she wrote.

“I know that I can make an even bigger impact at Queen’s Park.”

Labbée wrote that members of the Liberal Party reached out to her in early 2023 to consider running in the next election.

“When a person gets a call like that, it really does put so much in perspective,” she said.

“Anyone that knows me, knows that this opportunity has been 30 years in the making,”

Labbée said she began volunteering at 19 years old, helping Brent St. Denis run for re-election in Algoma-Manitoulin under the Liberal banner.

She credited the connections she has made over the years for the opportunity she now has.

“Over the years, I helped out other MPPs with their campaigns and coordinated ‘Meet the Candidates’ nights across Algoma-Manitoulin, (Kapuskasing) and Superior North ridings, both provincially and federally,” Labbée wrote.

“I have made so many connections along the way.”

She expressed her excitement about the Liberal plans for northern and rural Ontario and her feeling of honour to be part of it.

“I believe in Bonnie Crombie,” Labbée said.

“I’ve been able to spend quality time with her since early 2023, even prior to her becoming leader, and what an honor and privilege that has been.”

The Nickel Bell riding has been held by the Ontario New Democratic Party since 1971.

“Perhaps Nickel Belt voters are ready for a change?” Labbée said.

“I also realize the almost insurmountable challenge that I have up against me in unseating a long-standing (and much adored and respected) incumbent MPP.”

This is a reference to incumbent NDP candidate France Gélinas who has held the seat for almost two decades – since 2007 – and served as the official opposition critic for health for her past two terms.

Labbée said she is giving voters a strong choice.

In addition to Gélinas, Labbée will be facing a familiar face with the Progressive Conservative candidate, Randy Hazlett.

Hazlett ran against Labbée in Ward 7 during the 2022 municipal election – which she won. Earlier that year, Hazlett also lost the provincial election in Nickel Belt to Gélinas running under the Progressive Conservative banner.

During his 2022 provincial campaign run, Hazlett regularly refused to grant media interviews or engage in public debates.

In her social media posts, Labbée thanked her supporters for their encouragement.

“I know that time is not on my side (27 days is not a lot of time to get it done,)” she wrote.

“(But) I am so truly blessed beyond measure no matter what.”