Wide open race in Orlans

Announcing in May that it wastime for him to "take a new path," Liberal MP Andrew Leslie won't be running for re-election in Orlans, leaving the area's most populous riding up for grabs.

In 2015, Leslie, a retired lieutenant-general in the Canadian Forces,wrested the east Ottawa riding from Royal Galipeau, who had taken the previous three elections for the Conservatives.

Thirty per cent of the riding's constituents list their first language as French.

Its 97,144 registered voters will now choose between David Bertschi, a former federal Liberal leadership candidate now running for the Conservatives; Marie-France Lalonde, who leaves her seat representing this provincial riding at Queen's Park, Green Party candidateMichelle Petersen, who hasexperience working at CALACS, the area's francophone sexual assault support centre;Roger Saint-Fleur of the People's Party; and NDP candidateJacqueline Wiens, an advocate for affordable housing and raising the minimum wage.

Candidates are included in this riding profile once they've beenlisted as a confirmed candidateby Elections Canada, chosenas the winner of a nomination contestor who were the chosen candidate by a party that got at least one per cent of the national popular vote in 2015.

Orlansin 2015

Candidate questionnaires

CBC Ottawa sent every candidate running in eastern Ontario or western Quebec seven questions via their party or a publicly available email address.

They were asked to stick to 25 to 100 word answers, depending on the questions.

Theiranswers have not been edited by CBC.

David Bertschi

Marie-France Lalonde

Michelle Petersen