Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Sunday the calling of two by-elections for September 16 in the ridings of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, in Quebec, and Elmwood—Transcona, in Manitoba.
In LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, the vote is to elect a successor to former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti, who announced his retirement from politics in January. He had been excluded from the cabinet six months earlier.
The riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun seems to be a Liberal stronghold. The Liberal Party has won the three elections held there since its creation.
In the last election, David Lametti was re-elected with 42.9% of the vote, finishing far ahead of his opponents. The Bloc candidate received 22.1% of the vote, the NDP candidate came in third (19.4%) and the Conservative candidate obtained 7.5%. The People’s Party candidate obtained 3.4% and the Green Party candidate 3.0%.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
David Lametti
But as the results of the most recent by-election in Toronto—St. Paul’s in June demonstrated, the Liberals can no longer rely on their strongholds. Liberal candidate Leslie Church was edged out by Conservative Don Stewart.
And it doesn’t look any easier in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun.
A poll predicted a three-way race in this Montreal riding. According to the poll conducted by Mainstreet Research two weeks ago, the Liberal Party of Canada is credited with 26.2% of voting intentions — a drop of 16.7 points compared to the last election. The Bloc Québécois has 23.7%, the New Democratic Party 23.3% and the Conservative Party of Canada 11.9%. Nearly 8.7% of respondents say they are undecided.
The formidable task of keeping the riding in the Liberal fold has been entrusted to Montreal city councillor Laura Palestini. She will face another Montreal city councillor, Craig Sauvé, who will represent the NDP. The Conservatives have chosen entrepreneur Louis Ialenti, himself an unsuccessful candidate in the 2021 general election in the riding of Saint-Léonard — Saint-Michel. The Bloc has not yet revealed its choice.
Elmwood—Transcona
The riding of Elmwood—Transcona, in east Winnipeg, has been vacant since the departure of NDP MP Daniel Blaikie.
Mr. Blaikie announced his resignation in February to take a strategic position in Manitoba’s new NDP government. He is the senior adviser on intergovernmental affairs to Premier Wab Kinew.
He had been the constituency’s MP since 2015. In 2021, he won with a majority of 9,023 against the conservative Réjeanne Caron.