2015 federal election: parties line up candidates in northeast

With less than a year until election day, federal parties are starting to line up their candidates in the northeast.

But they may have to hurry up if whispers of a spring vote come true.

In Sudbury, Liberals including PaulLefebvrehave started to come forward seeking the chance to take down NDPMP Glenn Thibeault, and Conservative Fred Slade is taking another shot after running in 2011.

Slade was quietly named the candidate over the summer. He'sheard the spring-election talk, but he isn'tmovingup his campaign plans.

"There'll always be speculation," he said. "I'm expecting the election will be held next October. We're ready now, if we had to go to an election tomorrow."

'Hotly contested'

In North Bay, the NDP are hoping to make it a three-way race for the first time.

Local NDP president Gillian McCannsays she's excited to have two candidates seeking the nomination next month: Kathleen Jodouin and Catherine Murton Stoehr.

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"It's hotly contested," McCann said. "So to me that shows we think we have a chance to win this riding."

In Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, Liberal candidate Heather Wilson said she plans to go knocking on doors next week, but is conscious about not making it a year-long campaign.

Heather Wilson, the Liberal for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, is one of only a few candidates to be nominated so far.
She plans to go out knocking on doors next week, but is conscious not make this a year-long campaign.

"I can understand that voters might get a little fatigued ... because I think we are kind of campaigning for 12 months," she said. "But in a riding like this it makes it easier for someone like me that has to get out to so many parts."

InNipissing-Timiskaming, which was decided by only 18 votes last time, it will be a rematch between Liberal Anthony Rota and Conservative incumbent JayAspin.