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OTTAWA–The battle for political supremacy in Don Valley West was launched yesterday with Prime Minister Stephen Harper announcing a by-election will be held Sept. 22 in the Toronto riding.
"With hard work, this is our opportunity to break through. We are under no misconceptions because this has been a Liberal riding for 15 years," said Conservative candidate John Carmichael, a 56-year-old auto-industry businessman, who ran unsuccessfully in 2006.
The by-election is the result of the retirement of long-serving Liberal John Godfrey, who signalled his intention to resign some time ago but didn't make it official until Aug. 1.
It is the fourth federal by-election called for next month. Voters in Guelph and the Quebec ridings Saint-Lambert and Westmount-Ville Marie go to the polls Sept. 8.
The Liberals took Westmount and Guelph as well as Don Valley West in the 2006 election, while the Bloc Québécois took Saint-Lambert.
Few expected Harper to pull the trigger on Don Valley West so quickly, given that he had six months to call a by-election.
"This came very suddenly but we have a fabulous candidate, Georgina Wilcock," said Green Leader Elizabeth May. "Like so many of our candidates, this is her first foray into politics because she believes there should be a change."
Wilcock, 53, is head of obstetrics at the Scarborough Hospital.
Liberal candidate Rob Oliphant, 52, is a minister at Eglinton-St. George's United Church and a former accountant. "I would call (Don Valley West) a good Liberal riding. I wouldn't call it a safe Liberal riding," Oliphant said.
The New Democratic Party candidate is David Sparrow, a 46-year-old actor, writer and producer.
The by-election call comes amid growing speculation there will be a general election this fall.
A PMO spokesperson said Harper had planned to call all four by-elections for the same date but that fell through when Godfrey delayed his departure.
Current standings in the 308-seat Commons are: Conservative 127, Liberal 95, Bloc Québécois 48, NDP 30, Independent, four, vacant, four.
With files from The Canadian Press
