Conservative Party of Canada members in Nipissing—Timiskaming have opted for a new face to lead the charge in the next federal election.
In the video above, political newcomer and now CPC candidate for Nipissing—Timiskaming Cassidy Villeneuve discusses community safety, her ties to Pierre Poilievre, and giving the riding the representation in Ottawa she says has been lacking.
Villeneuve won the riding association's election Saturday at the Best Western in North Bay, surging ahead of Steven Trahan, who represented the Conservatives in the 2021 election. Trahan finished 3,000 votes behind the incumbent, long-time Liberal MP Anthony Rota, who has declared he will not seek re-election for a seventh time.
Villeneuve thanked her supporters and promised she was eager to see conservative values prevail in the riding. "I'm so ready to put in the work ... I know together, we will bring it home. We're going to form the next government and Nipissing—Timiskaming will have a strong voice."
Local CPC voters chose Villeneuve, who was born in Iroquois Falls and raised in North Bay. Villeneuve touts herself as a "dedicated advocate for the values and future of Northern Ontario."
After graduating from École secondaire publique Odyssée in North Bay, Villeneuve earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Ottawa, where she also worked on Parliament Hill as a student and attained senior positions with multiple Conservative Members of Parliament.
Parry Sound—Muskoka MP Scott Aitchison spoke Saturday before the dozens in attendance. "Many of you might think this is the end," he said. "This is just the beginning," of getting Trudeau out of office. Later, he added, "We're going to turn Nipissing—Timiskaming blue."
