Shawbonquit hopes to fill empty Sudbury seat for NDP
By Heather Campbell
SUDBURY – The empty seats suddenly abandoned in the Sudbury riding by MP Glenn Thibeault and MPP Joe Cimino has the NDP on the lookout for the next candidate. They may have found one in Suzanne Shawbonquit of Atikameksheng Anishnabek.
With the resignation of newly elected Joe Cimino on November 20th and the floor walking of MP Glenn Thibeault a month later, both provincial and federal politics have become more like musical chairs.
On Sunday, January 4th Shawbonquit held a meet and greet in Sudbury with long time NDP leaders Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus and former Sudbury East MPP Eli Martel in attendance. Paul Loewenberg, the 2011 provincial NDP candidate who lost to Rick Bartolucci by only 501 votes, was also there to make his own announcements. Loewenberg is stepping down from the nomination race and putting his support behind Shawbonquit, and he will be putting his hat in the ring for the Federal seat instead.
Family and community members came out to support her including a special welcome by drummers Darlene Kaboni and elder Winnie Pitawanakwat singing the Strong Woman Song.
“If you want change, you have to be part of that change,” said Shawbonquit to the 100 supporters who came out despite the snow. “As an indigenous member of the Ojibwa nation our highest values are built in our DNA that is not to dominate but bring balance and harmony.”
Shawbonquit is the sole proprietor of Sage Management Solutions and community volunteer bringing a First Nation voice to post-secondary education, media and social services. She sat on a number of local boards including Board of Governors for Cambrian College, and Chair for the Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant Review Team for Timmins, Cochrane, Manitoulin, Sudbury and Algoma. She is also the founder of TedxNickelCity lecture series.
“I don’t normally come down from Cobalt for a provincial nomination but I need to be here to say I am with Suzanne,” said Angus. “This is a transition moment and she is going to raise the caliber.”
Shawbonquit ensured the crowd that she has what it takes to be their representative bringing renewed energy to address social and economic challenges we face. “We need a strong voice, principled voice, cut from cultural fabric from northern Ontario and not afraid to stand up,” she said.
“That does not mean we will sit back and be quiet,” she said. She will be pursuing democratic rights including First Nation rights.
Other candidates in the nomination race include Dave Battaino, Jesse Gaudet and John Caruso with a decision being made on January 11th at the Steelworkers Hall in Sudbury. The date of the by-election is expected to be announced by Premier Kathleen Wynne in early January.