Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford must call a byelection in the riding of Scarborough Southwest on Wednesday and could call elections in two others.
The provincial seat in Scarborough Southwest has been vacant since February when Doly Begum resigned to run for the federal Liberals — a goal she accomplished.
According to a February news release from Elections Ontario, the latest election day possible for Scarborough Southwest is Sept. 3.
Under the Election Act, elections must be called on a Wednesday and held the fifth Thursday after, which means an election in that riding must be called on Aug. 5.
There are also provincial seats to be won in York-Simcoe and Hamilton East-Stoney Creek after the Progressive Conservative minister Caroline Mulroney and Neil Lumsden resigned in the respective ridings.
Mulroney stepped down in June and Lumsden announced he will be retiring from politics on Aug. 5.
Ford could decide to trigger elections in all three ridings on Wednesday.
CBC Toronto has reached out to the premier’s office and will update this story if there is a response.
Scarborough Southwest
The Ontario NDP have won the Scarborough Southwest seat in the last three provincial elections with Begum as their candidate. Their new contender, housing advocate Fatima Shaban, will vie to take her place.
In May, Ahsanul Hafiz won a heated battle against former MP Nate Erskine-Smith to become the Ontario Liberal candidate for Scarborough Southwest. According to his campaign website, Hafiz operates dozens of Domino’s Pizza franchises across Ontario and is an advocate for youth sports.
The Ontario Tories are putting Dr. Noor Tarun forward as their candidate for the riding. The family physician owns and operates multiple clinics in the GTA, according to a news release from the party.
WATCH | Doly Begum gives victory speech after becoming MP for Scarborough Southwest:
‘Tonight truly belongs to you’ Liberal MP-elect Doly Begum dedicates victory to her late husband
Liberal candidate Doly Begum thanks her constituents and late husband, Rizuan, in her victory speech after she was declared the projected winner of the Scarborough Southwest byelection on Monday. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals secured a majority government with projected wins in two Toronto ridings.
Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek and Ontario’s minister of sport, announced in July he will retire Aug. 4.
Following his announcement, three parties in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek announced their candidates for the byelection.
Jeff Beattie wants to take Lumsden’s place for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives. Currently councillor for Ward 10 in Hamilton, Beattie said in a social media video he would be withdrawing from the municipal election to run for provincial office.
Pascale Marchand is running for the Greens and the Ontario Liberal Party appointed Heino Doessing. Both ran against Lumsden in the last election.
Former Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Taylor will be running for the NDP. The riding was a stronghold for the New Democrats, before Lumsden’s election in 2022.
York-Simcoe
Caroline Mulroney, Ontario cabinet minister and PC MPP for York-Simcoe announced her resignation in May, saying she’s looking forward to a new chapter of her life. The decision came two years after losing her father, former prime minister Brian Mulroney, and as she and her husband are empty nesters, she said in a public letter.
Her former party announced Susan Lahey, an East Gwillimbury town councillor and a small business owner, will run for Mulroney’s former seat.
Naomi Davison, a councillor for York Region and for the Town of Georgina, is running for the Liberals and Matt Pearce, a vehicle manufacturing professional, is running for the Greens. CBC News has reached out to the Ontario NDP about who their competitor will be.