By-Election Call

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070619/..._quits_politics

Graham, a former minister of defence and foreign affairs, revealed in February that he wouldn't seek re-election, but said he would serve as the MP for Toronto Centre until the next federal vote. But now, with little prospect of a general election anytime soon, the 68-year-old says he'll step down July 2.

Rae, a former Ontario NDP premier who sought the Liberal party leadership last year, won the Liberal nomination for Toronto Centre in March and must be considered the front-runner to win the safe Liberal seat next time around.

There could be as many as five or six seats that could open up for bye-elections if Harper decides to make the call including Myron Thompson who announced he was not going to run. Bill Blaikie could be another.

Edited July 12, 2007 by jdobbin

[geoffrey]

I'm sure Myron Thompson's seat is ready for Liberal picking, hey dobbin?

[jdobbin]

I'm sure Myron Thompson's seat is ready for Liberal picking, hey dobbin?

Actually, I mentioned the seat because there might be something for every party in terms of new blood. Liberal, Bloq, NDP and Tory might all have seats that could open up for one of their own. I don't even think the Liberals placed second there. It was one of the ridings that the Greens did well in.

You don't think a bye-election should be called? Or do you think we should leave a few seats open till whenever the next election might be?

[Michael Bluth]

We'll see a bunch of by-elections in the fall.

[geoffrey]

Or do you think we should leave a few seats open till whenever the next election might be?

I don't see what it matters.

[jdobbin]

I don't see what it matters.

If Harper is convinced that he will be there till 2009, he is obligated to fill seats that would be otherwise vacant. I can't recall how long a seat can be left vacant but even Stelmach in Alberta called elections in a timely manner.

[Michael Bluth]

Or do you think we should leave a few seats open till whenever the next election might be?

I don't see what it matters.

If Harper is really intending to wait until the term is up, October of 2009, he legally has to call some of the by-elections before then. (I'm pretty sure but the Elections Canada Web site is pretty vague on when a by-election must happen. Anybody know the law on this one?

Unless he plans on going to the polls this fall we will see the by-elections called in September.

[geoffrey]

Every vacant seat is essientially guarnteed to the party that previously won it, none are up for grabs. So why waste our money?

[ScottSA]

I'm sure Myron Thompson's seat is ready for Liberal picking, hey dobbin?

Yup...wild rose country is a real swing riding.

[geoffrey]

Yup...wild rose country is a real swing riding.

Myron Thompson Conservative Party of Canada 39,487 72.2%

Sean Maw Green Party of Canada 5,929 10.8%

Judy Stewart Liberal Party of Canada 5,331 9.7%

Shannon Nelles New Democratic Party 3,968 7.3%

Ohhh baby! I smell a Liberal take over! Yeeehaw!!

Let's look at the others:

Toronto-Centre:

Johan Boyden Communist Party of Canada 120 0.2%

Philip Fernandez Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada 66 0.1%

Bill Graham Liberal Party of Canada 30,874 52.2%

Michel Prairie No Affiliation 101 0.2%

Lewis Reford Conservative Party of Canada 10,763 18.2%

Michael Shapcott New Democratic Party 14,036 23.7%

Chris Tindal Green Party of Canada 3,080 5.2%

Liz White Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada 72 0.1%

Wow. If the Commies didn't split the vote, they'd certainly take a run at the Liberals hold on this one, hey?

Saint-Hyacinthe--Bagot

Joëlle Chevrier New Democratic Party 2,723 5.5%

Stéphane Deschênes Liberal Party of Canada 4,884 9.8%

Huguette Guilhaumon Conservative Party of Canada 12,323 24.8%

Yvan Loubier Bloc Québécois 27,838 56.0%

Jacques Tétreault Green Party of Canada 1,925 3.9%

Quite obviously with the Dion-May marriage of convenience, the Greens are poised to take this riding by at the very least a super majority.

--

My point? What's the point? We'll be back at where we are, just having spent a few million to do it.

Lapierre's riding may be up for grabs... MAYYYBE. I'm still putting my money on the Liberals there.

[Topaz]

Why no bye-election? Could be that dude that Harper put in as a Senator, who said he would run in the next Fed. election in Quebec?? I think that's the guy, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, Harper has tied his hands on forcing others to run because of this guy. Harper knows he'll not win the next election when 3 other provinces are already against the gov't, the guy has made too many mistakes and enemies within the country!

[Argus]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070619/..._quits_politics

Graham, a former minister of defence and foreign affairs, revealed in February that he wouldn't seek re-election, but said he would serve as the MP for Toronto Centre until the next federal vote. But now, with little prospect of a general election anytime soon, the 68-year-old says he'll step down July 2.

I guess that means teenage boys on parliament hill will once again be safe to bend over without checking behind them.

[Mad_Michael]

I guess that means teenage boys on parliament hill will once again be safe to bend over without checking behind them.

That is one of the most pathetic things I've ever seen someone say.

Indeed, such a comment tells us far more about Argus than it does about Bill Graham, gay people or Parliamentary pages.

[Mad_Michael]

That Bill Graham is retiring from politics and that Bob Rae would be running for the Liberal nomination in Graham's riding (Toronto Centre) is rather old news.

Interesting that there is going to be a bye-election though.

Btw, this particular seat is pretty much one of the most guarenteed Liberal safe-seats in the country (and one of the most interesting - it includes not only one of the richest and most prestigious neighbourhoods in Toronto, but also the largest government housing project in the country - and smack in the middle is the 'gay village').

Indeed, Bob Rae is likely to be the first 'straight' to hold the seat, federally or provincially, in quite a long time.

[geoffrey]

Indeed, Bob Rae is likely to be the first 'straight' to hold the seat, federally or provincially, in quite a long time.

There might have been some political sense in his little swim with Mercer??

[Michael Bluth]

Indeed, Bob Rae is likely to be the first 'straight' to hold the seat, federally or provincially, in quite a long time.

Graham held it since 1993. Before that woulda been straight I think.

There was a one-term PCer there but prior to that it was David Crombie's seat for a long time.

[Fortunata]

Bill Graham is gay? For true?

[jdobbin]

Every vacant seat is essientially guarnteed to the party that previously won it, none are up for grabs. So why waste our money?

So, how long should a seat be left open? In theory till 2009?

We now have another seat about to open up.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...20?hub=Politics

A second veteran Liberal MP in as many days has announced he'll resign early, opening his riding to a potential late-summer byelection.

Jim Peterson, a former trade minister, will vacate his Toronto seat of Willowdale on July 12 instead of waiting until the next federal election.

Peterson, who had earlier indicated he would not seek re-election, made the announcement today in the Commons.

The 65-year-old noted that fixed-election-date legislation passed this spring could delay the next general vote until October 2009.

[geoffrey]

Bill Graham is gay? For true?

Yes. There was also a (mostly) unsubstantiated claim that he had an underaged male consort in his Ottawa residence, for true. The boy says he was, Graham says he wasn't.

[Mad_Michael]

Indeed, Bob Rae is likely to be the first 'straight' to hold the seat, federally or provincially, in quite a long time.

There might have been some political sense in his little swim with Mercer??

Not on that angle. That is absurd and sexist (and I'm being polite).

I thought Rae's stunt with Mercer (it was Mercer's idea) was brilliant and primarily designed to show that Rae was a 'regular easy-going kind of guy' not some stuffy over-managed suit type politican with attitude and an ego problem.

The 'stunt' was during Rae's campaign for Liberal leadership, a full year before announcing the run for Toronto Centre.

[Mad_Michael]

Indeed, Bob Rae is likely to be the first 'straight' to hold the seat, federally or provincially, in quite a long time.

Graham held it since 1993. Before that woulda been straight I think.

There was a one-term PCer there but prior to that it was David Crombie's seat for a long time.

And 14 years is not a long time?

Btw, Smitherman is the MPP and he's gay too. Kyle Rae is the local Councilor and he's gay too. You want to represent that riding/ward you must be either gay or gay friendly or get a new career.

[Mad_Michael]

Bill Graham is gay? For true?

Yes. He always treated it as a 'low profile' thing.

[Michael Bluth]

Bill Graham is gay? For true?

Yes. He always treated it as a 'low profile' thing.

Most likely, but he never officially 'came out'. Still married, to a woman, IIRC.

[noahbody]

Bill Graham is gay? For true?

Yes. He always treated it as a 'low profile' thing.

Most likely, but he never officially 'came out'. Still married, to a woman, IIRC.

I think his wife's name is Doug, but I could be wrong.

[jdobbin]

The speculation on an MP's sexual orientation is rather repugnant.