Federal byelection called in Liberal stronghold of Toronto-St. Paul's
Seat was held by former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett for 27 years
A byelection has been called for the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's, to fill a seat left by the resignation of longtime MP and former cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett.
The election will be held on June 24, 2024. The Liberals will look to retain a stronghold in Toronto, while the Conservatives and NDP are hoping to make a gain, as the governing party struggles in public polling.
Bennett held the seat for 27 years, serving during her tenure as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and minister of mental health and addictions. She resigned her seat in January and is now Canada's ambassador to Denmark.
The Liberals have nominated political staffer Leslie Church to carry their banner in the byelection. The Conservatives have nominated financial services worker Don Stewart, and the NDP announced in April that non-profit director Amrit Parhar will be their candidate.
Bennett had established Toronto-St. Paul's as a Liberal stronghold, winning with comfortable margins in most elections and even comfortably retaining the seat in the 2011 federal election, which saw the Liberals reduced to third party status. Conservatives typically place second in the riding, and the NDP third.