NDP's Paul Loewenberg takes aim at federal nomination

Sudbury New Democrat Paul Loewenberg has announced he's taking a run at federal politics.

And, he's asking his supporters to back Suzanne Shawbonquit in the provincial race.

New Democrats will nominate a candidate for that race this Sunday at the United Steelworkers Hall.

“Suzanne’s provincial experience and background with entrepreneurial strategies makes her a perfect candidate for this provincial election,” Loewenberg stated in a recent press release.

“She stands for the same ideals held by the Ontario NDP and I know that Suzanne will be a natural fit for provincial politics.”

He said the two first met 20 years ago when she was working for the Northern Lights Festival on developing new programming through the year.

Shawbonquit is up against Dave Battaino, Jesse Gaudet and John Caruso.

Sudbury NDP election planning committee chair Sharon Murdoch said whoever wins has to defeat former federal New Democrat MP Glenn Thibeault, who is now running as a candidate for the provincial Liberals.

“I must say that it has galvanized us to work that much harder,” she said.

“We'll do everything we can to see to it that he [Glenn Thibeault] does not make it this time.”

Paula Peroni is running for the Progressive Conservatives in the upcoming Sudbury by-election.

The Green Party is expected to nominate its candidate Tuesday evening.   

​Loewenberg said he is looking “forward to this fight, provincially, and I look forward to standing with the NDP in any future election that comes up.”

“Our federal member stepped down from the NDP leaving us to run a nomination this year,” he continued.

“I intend to stand for that position and together we will keep Sudbury Orange from house to house, corner to corner.”