Suzanne Shawbonquit 'ready to get to work' for Sudbury NDP

Morning North8:27Suzanne Shawbonquit - NDP candidate in Sudbury by-election

Can the New Democrats hold on to the Sudbury seat in the upcoming by-election? They've chosen Suzanne Shawbonquit to replace Joe Cimino as the NDP candidate. Suzanne Shawbonquit was our guest in studio the morning after winning the NDP nomination.SuzanneShawbonquitsays she is ready to "paint Sudbury orange" after being nominated on Sunday to run as the NDP candidate for Sudbury in the Feb. 5 byelection.

Her nomination makes her the first Aboriginal person in provincial politics to come from the Robinson-Huron Treaty area.

"You have no idea how amazing this is and we're making history today," she told about 300 people gathered at the United Steelworkers Hall inSudburyto take part in the nominationvote.

Shawbonquit said she wants to bring a new kind of representation to Queen's Park and get rid of what she calls the "old boys' club." She said she wants to focus on a number of issues, including aboriginal concerns and employment for young people.

"We're ready to get to work."

Shawbonquithas less than four weeks to convince voters that her partyshould hold power once again. The NDP'sprevious candidate, Joe Cimino, stepped down for personal reasons after only a few months on the job.

• Province calls Feb. 5 byelection for Sudbury

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath opened the Sudbury nomination meeting Sunday saying"northerners deserve respect. This election is about electing an NDP MPP who respects the North."

Horwath noted the Feb. 5 byelection is about sending a messageto Kathleen Wynne.She saidSudbury"will never be bullied or bought" and congratulated former Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier for running as an independent.

Olivier finished second in the June 12, 2014, election, 980 votes behind Cimino.

The Liberals have said they discussed ways Olivier could remain involved in the party, but did not offer him anything in return for stepping aside although it has been alleged to be the case.The Progressive Conservatives asked the Ontario Provincial Police to look into Olivier's allegations and theNDPdirected them to Elections Ontario.

Olivier announced lastweek on his36thbirthday and a day that marked 21 years since a hockey accident left him a quadriplegic that he would run in thebyelectionas an independent candidate.

Horwathtakes aim at Liberals

During her remarks in Sudbury on Sunday,Horwathnoted her party will focus on achievable, realistic goal and said noplace has more potential and has been asoverlooked as Sudbury.Horwathtook aim at the Liberals for cutting child care and refusing to bring a PET scanner to Sudbury.

And whenshe said her party believes in strong unions and collective bargaining, her comments drew loud cheers from the audience.

Shawbonquit was up against Dave Battaino and John Caruso for the nomination. Candidate Jesse Gaudetopted out of the race to support Shawbonquit instead.

In a previous interview with CBC News, Shawbonquitsaid, "There is a lot of expectations, I think, and a lot of responsibility, she said.But I'm ready for it."

Shawbonquit will face off in next month's election againstthe Greens' David Robinson, the PCs' Paula Peroni, and the Liberals'Glenn Thibeault.

Sudbury has been without a representative at Queen's Park for nearly two months.

Horwath will remain in Sudbury on Monday, when she's expected to hold community discussions atTucos Taco Lounge on Kathleen Street, meet withlocal business owners atOld Rock on Minto Street, and then have lunch with Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger.