Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced the official date for three upcoming provincial byelections set to take place on September 3. This event will give voters in Scarborough Southwest, York-Simcoe, and Hamilton East-Stoney Creek a chance to have their voices heard.
In a closely watched race for the Liberal nomination back in May, businessman Ahsanul Hafiz emerged victorious, defeating former MP Nate Erskine-Smith by a narrow 19-vote margin. Erskine-Smith, who had eyes on a potential entry into provincial politics, has since abandoned those aspirations.
The Ontario Progressive Conservatives have selected Dr. Noor Tarun as their candidate, while Fatima Shaban will represent the NDP. Mark Bekkering has been nominated by the Green Party in these byelections.
The need for these byelections arose when Doly Begum, the former NDP representative for the riding since 2018, vacated her seat in February to pursue a candidacy with the Liberals in the federal riding. The Conservatives aim to retain the seats left vacant by Caroline Mulroney in York-Simcoe and Neil Lumsden in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.
In the riding of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, Jeff Beattie will run as the PC candidate, Pascale Marchand as the Green Party candidate, and Heino Doessing as the Liberal candidate. Susan Lahey will carry the PC banner in York-Simcoe, while Naomi Davison and Matt Pearce are representing the Liberals as candidates, with the NDP nominee still to be announced.