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“My priorities for Orléans are no different than the priorities of every Liberal in this riding. But I will say that the east end needs more attention from all levels of government,” she said, from commerce to jobs to infrastructure planning.

Marie-France Lalonde, the MPP for Orléans, was the last nomination contestant to take the stage. She stressed her political experience, and argued that she was the best positioned of all three candidates to keep the riding red and defeat the Conservatives on voting day.

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia

“In Ontario, we’ve seen what the Conservatives mean when they say they are ‘for the people’ — they’re for some people, and it’s probably not us … we cannot let that happen. This is why I’m the best choice to be your Liberal candidate for Orléans,” Lalonde said.

The bombshell news that Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau donned blackface in the past was the subject of more than one conversation at the event. But it wasn’t addressed by any of the official speakers.

Asked afterword for their reaction to the revelation about their party’s leader, all three candidates said it has not shaken their belief in the Liberal Party or Trudeau, nor their desire to run under the Liberal banner.

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia

“I have a lot of faith in Justin Trudeau, I have met him personally, and I adore the man, I think he’s a wonderful leader,” Akbari said. “I think a picture from 2001 is not going to falter my decision to continue to try to work with him closely, and be part of his team.”