McGuinty calls byelection; Tory hopes to return to legislature

Premier Dalton McGuinty has called a byelection in a riding that Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory hopes will provide his ticket back into the legislature.

Voters in the central Ontario riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, near Peterborough, will go to the polls on March 5, said officials in the premier's office.

Tory announced he would seek the seat after Conservative Laurie Scott stepped down last month to make way for him.

Tory's been without a seat since his ill-fated bid in the 2007 election for the Toronto riding held by Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

Local school board chairman Rick Johnson will be running for the Liberals.

Three New Democrats — Lynne Boldt, Lyn Edwards and Stephen Woof — are vying for their party's nomination.