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ORLEANS, Ont. – The Ontario Liberals have nominated Stephen Blais as their candidate for an upcoming byelection in the riding of Orléans.

Blais, who previously worked as a Catholic school board trustee and is a municipal councillor, was nominated during a party vote on Saturday.

He’ll replace Marie-France Lalonde, who represented Orléans for four years before making the jump to federal politics and representing that riding in the House of Commons.

Orléans is one of two byelections that will need to be called in the next few months, as neighbouring Ottawa-Vanier is also vacant.

Liberal Nathalie Des Rosiers had represented that riding, but resigned this summer to take a position at Toronto’s Massey College.

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Blais said in a press release that he is committed to standing up against cuts by the Progressive Conservative government.

He won out over Rachel Décoste, who is a writer, educator and immigration policy expert.