Federal Conservative candidate in Nipissing-Timiskaming steps down

Cassidy Villeneuve, the Conservative candidate in Nipissing-Timiskaming in northern Ontario, has stepped down.

In a letter she posted to her Facebook page, Villeneuve said the challenges of working in politics are "often magnified" as a woman.

She said she has faced pushback from certain members of the Conservative Party board in the riding that "has made it clear how difficult it can be to navigate these spaces."

Villeneuve was nominated as the party's candidate in February 2024.

In her resignation letter, she thanked her team and added she remains steadfast in her belief that Pierre Poilievre is the best choice for Canada's future.

Concerns from the riding association

David Tabachnick, a political science professor at Nipissing University in North Bay, said members of the Conservative riding association in the area reportedly had concerns that Villeneuve was not active enough as a candidate.

At the time of her nomination in early 2024 Villeneuve lived in Gatineau, Que., although she signed her resignation letter as a "proud resident of East Ferris," a small town south of North Bay that is in the Nipissing-Timiskaming riding.

Tabachnick said he believes the Conservatives will have enough time to find a new candidate before the next federal election.

He said he's not certain Mark Carney, who was chosen as Liberal party leader on Sunday, will call an election as soon as he is appointed prime minister.

"Maybe he'll take some time to settle in, get to know the caucus and the cabinet. He's got to, of course, appoint a cabinet on top of it," he said.

That could push an election closer to the summer.

Liberal Anthony Rota is the current MP for Nipissing-Timiskaming.

Because he plans to retire, the Liberals have nominated East Ferris Mayor Pauline Rochefort to try to hold the seat, while the NDP is running Englehart teacher Valerie Kennedy.

Tabachnick said that while it's been a Liberal seat for most of its history, the Conservatives have a chance at winning the riding, thanks in part to recent redistricting.

"The word is that it's a little more conservative now just by the way these borders have been redrawn," he said, adding that the NDP should not be discounted in the riding as they've done well provincially

Villeneuve told CBC News she will not be commenting further on her resignation beyond what she said in her letter.