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Gélinas, Mantha fill void left by Cimino resignation

Despite the sudden resignation last week of MPP Joe Cimino, the NDP says Sudbury residents can still access services and will have their voices heard at Queen's Park.
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Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha give details Friday about how they will fill in for departed Sudbury MPP Joe Cimino until a byelection is held. The news conference was held at the new Sudbury constituency office, 885 Regent St. Photo by Darren MacDonald.
Despite the sudden resignation last week of MPP Joe Cimino, the NDP says Sudbury residents can still access services and will have their voices heard at Queen's Park.

At a Friday morning news conference, Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha said they will work together to ensure Sudburians are represented until a byelection is held.

The event was held at what would have been Cimino's constituency office at 885 Regent St., which Gélinas said will be open during normal business hours Monday-Thursday, and by appointment only on Fridays.

“We're here today because last week, our colleague, our friend, Joe Cimino, decided to step down for very good personal and family reasons,” Gélinas said.

She said there are two parts to an MPP's job: representing residents in the Ontario Legislature, and helping them access key provincial services in the riding.

“That voice will continue to be heard, the needs of the people of Sudbury will continue to be heard, at Queen's Park,” she said. “And there are staff here at the constituency office who will continue to be here, that will offer the same services as before … If people need more help than that, people from my office, people from Michael's office, will step in.”

Mantha will also be taking over Cimino's role as transportation critic, and he said he'll be fighting to ensure Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government keeps its promises to fund Maley Drive and continue four-laning Highway 69. He'll also fight for improved highway maintenance this winter, a common issue for all northerners, he said.

“As an MPP from the North, transportation has been and will continue to be a high priority for me,” Mantha said. “We want to make sure the government is living up to its commitments.”

Both MPPs plan to schedule meetings in the city so residents can voice their concerns, he said. And people should call their offices directly if they issues they need addressed.
“People from Sudbury can contact me, or contact this office, and I will make myself available, and so will France.”

Citing unspecified health and family concerns, Cimino resigned Nov. 20 via a news release and has said he won't speak publicly on the issue. The former city councillor won the longtime Liberal stronghold for the NDP in the June provincial election in a close race. Andrew Olivier, who ran for the Liberals and lost by less than 1,000 votes in June, has said he will run for the nomination again when Wynne calls a byelection.

Because the resignation took place so early in the term, a vote must be held within six months. When asked if the Liberals have been given any indication regarding when a vote will be held, Gélinas quipped the NDP would likely be the last to find out.

“I'm guessing you guys will find out first, and a few hours later they will tell us,” she said.

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Darren MacDonald

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