Prime Minister calls byelection in Jack Layton's old riding
The Canadian Press
Feb 05, 2012 13:58:45 PM
Stephen Harper has called a byelection for March 12 in former NDP leader Jack Layton's riding.
The news came in the form of a statement from the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday.
Layton died of cancer last summer and the New Democrats have picked law professor Craig Scott to carry their banner in the riding of Toronto-Danforth.
The Conservatives have nominated communications specialist Andrew Keyes to run for them.
The riding, located east of downtown Toronto, is a diverse section of the city that was known as a Liberal bastion until Layton's 2004 election. At one point in the late 1970s it was represented by then NDP MP Bob Rae, who is now interim Liberal leader.
The byelection will come just before the NDP selects a new leader March 24.