Blais, who last year won his third-consecutive term as councillor for Cumberland Ward, was nominated during a party vote on Saturday. Blais has said previously he will resign as councillor only if he wins the provincial seat.
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.
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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.
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 Decoste, who is a writer, educator and immigration policy expert.