Maxime Bernier, Marci Ien running in two Toronto byelections called for Oct. 26

Toronto voters will go to the polls in two byelections on Oct. 26.

Thestar.com
Sept. 22, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that votes will be held to fill vacancies in the previously Liberal-held seats of Toronto Centre and York Centre.

They will be the first such federal contests since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March, and come as infections are again on the rise.

Toronto Centre was held by former finance minister Bill Morneau, who resigned last month in the wake of the WE Charity scandal. In that riding, the Liberals have appointed prominent CTV broadcaster Marci Ien as their candidate.

York Centre was previously held by Michael Levitt, who retired to become president and CEO of the Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre. In that riding, Trudeau anointed Ya’ara Saks, director at Trauma Practice for Healthy Communities, a charitable organization that helps trauma survivors.

Both Morneau and Levitt were first elected in 2015.

While Toronto Centre is seen as a safe Liberal seat, the Tories hope to make gains in York Centre, which is held provincially by Progressive Conservative MPP Roman Baber.

A controversial former Conservative stalwart plans to run there for his own upstart party.

People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier, who lost his long-held Quebec seat of Beauce seat in last October’s federal election, hopes to make a comeback in York Centre.

Bernier started his far-right party, which opposes multiculturalism and want to reduce immigration rates, after finishing as a runner-up in the Conservatives’ 2017 leadership contest behind ex-leader Andrew Scheer and ahead of current Tory Leader Erin O’Toole.

“I’ll be there for sure. I want to be back in Parliament as soon as possible, because (the People’s Party) wants to start the debates on the future of this country,” he told iPolitics recently, admitting it will be “difficult” to win the riding.