Jim Bélanger scores rare Conservative win in Sudbury area
Jim Bélanger came from a family of pioneers that settled in the Azilda area more than 130 years ago.
On Monday, he became a pioneer of sorts himself, becoming the first MP for the new riding of Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt. He is also the first Conservative to be elected at the provincial or federal level in the Sudbury area since Jim Gordon was elected Sudbury MPP in 1981.
Bélanger, 66, is well known in Azilda. 'My family came here in 1886 as pioneers,' he said. 'We live on that same land. We are not related to many of the families with the same name. I am just a regular Joe with a bit of an education.'
Bélanger attended the University of Ottawa, where he pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration. He has worked in the mining industry, logging, agriculture and is currently self-employed in the fuel sector.
'This is going to change my world … my family's world too. (My wife) Sylvie has been very supportive,' and in his victory speech, he once again acknowledged her role.
He also thanked an extensive team that worked hard to make the win happen. 'What a great group of volunteers: giving up evenings, weekends … so many hours. I got everywhere save for Killarney and Gogama.'
Sylvie Bélanger said she is so proud of her husband of 35 years. 'He is thinking about young people, young adults, young families. We have three children of our own. There are grandchildren … and even one on the way.'
With 251 of 259 polls reporting, Belanger had received 26,893 votes, while Liberal Marc Serre, the incumbent, took 21,283.
Andréane Chénier of the NDP got 4,386, Sharilynne St. Louis of the PPC 1,395 and Himal Hossain of the Greens 424.
As results came in for Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt last night, Belanger's supporters cheered. Frank Servant was in the crowd of about 50 people at Overtime Sports Bar & Grill in Chelmsford.
Servant was born and raised in Azilda and has known the Bélanger family all his life.
'I was the first one to pay to have a sign,' he said. 'I believe in Jim. You couldn't have someone better than Jim to represent us. I always was a Conservative, but even more so with Jim.'
Servant was emphatic from the beginning that Bélanger would win. 'We are sure to have a coffee together tomorrow to talk about all this.'
As the evening closed and final results came in, Bélanger's eyes were sparkling with emotion. 'I will work every single day for this riding. I hope politics won't change me. The win really hasn't hit me yet. I am excited.'
In winning Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt, Belanger defeated Liberal Marc Serre, who held the old Nickel Belt riding for a decade.
However, the riding was dramatically redrawn due to redistribution, taking in Manitoulin Island and other rural parts of northeastern Ontario.
Belanger's campaign manager, Diane Suski, attributed his win because he is a strong, believable candidate who represented change as a fundamental element.
'Jim is a fantastic candidate,' Suski said. 'I've known Jim forever. He was always intrigued by the idea of being in politics. I didn't have to convince him to run, it was the right timing. Having a bilingual candidate is important. It is respectful of the nature of the region.'
Suski said she had a very good feeling about Belanger's prospects long before election day. 'The response at the door was that people wanted change.'
She had her fingers crossed nonetheless. When Belanger was declared the winner, she was overjoyed.
'Sure, some of the riding readjustment may have had an impact here tonight,' Suski said. 'The new boundaries brought in Manitoulin. We were very strategic in how we set up the campaign team.
'Because it is such a big riding, we divvied it up into seven units and assigned a manager to each. Did we win the sign war? I don't know, but we spent a lot and we invested a lot in placing them.'
The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government.
sud.editorial@sunmedia.ca
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