In Orlans, everyone's movin' on up

The race is on in Orlans, where a longtime Ottawa city councillor is among those trying to make the move up to provincial politics to replace an MPP who moved up to federal politics.

Marie-France Lalondewas electedMP for Orlansin October after more than five yearsrepresenting the same eastern Ottawa ridingfor the provincial Liberals.

Lalonde beat the second-place PC candidate by more than 2,400 votes in 2018.

Among the candidates vying to replace her is CumberlandCoun. Stephen Blais, whose ward overlaps with some areas of the riding he's hoping to represent. Blais was a school board trustee before being elected to council in 2010.

The Progressive Conservatives have put forth Natalie Montgomery, who describes herself as a women's health advocate and communications specialist, to try to bolster their majority government.

ManonParrot is running for the NDP. She works as a translator and has been an advocate for a $15 minimum wage and labour rights, according to her official biography.

The Green Party's nominee is lawyer and former Amnesty International coordinator Andrew West.

Keegan Bennett is running for the None of the Above Direct Democracy PartyJean-Serge Brisson for the Libertarian Party, Gerrie Huenemoerder for the Ontario Alliance and John Turmel for the Pauper Party.

30% francophone

Thirty per cent of the riding's constituents list their first language as French.

Nominations closed Feb. 13. Advance polls were Feb. 16 to 21, and byelection day is Feb. 27.

There's also a byelection in the neighbouring riding ofOttawaVanier.

2018 election results