Setting the stage for two high-stakes byelections, Premier Doug Ford has named a PC candidate in York—Simcoe to replace retired cabinet minister Caroline Mulroney and will hold a nomination race in Scarborough Southwest.
The Scarborough contest has been shaping up since former city councillor Gary Crawford bowed out of plans to run in early June, four months after New Democrat MPP Doly Begum resigned and joined the federal Liberals.
A date for the Progressive Conservative nomination vote will be set soon, a party source told the Star. Several hopefuls are jockeying for support. Ford has until Aug. 3 to call the byelection.
For York-Simcoe, the premier appointed East Gwillimbury town councillor Susan Lahey, a professional art appraiser and small business owner.
“As a successful entrepreneur, municipal leader and community volunteer, Susan has earned the trust and respect of people across York-Simcoe,” the premier said in a statement.
The NDP and Liberals enjoy a head start on campaigning in Scarborough Southwest, having selected candidates weeks ago, but are yet to select hopefuls for Mulroney’s riding north of Toronto. The Greens do not yet have a candidate for either riding.
While York—Simcoe is considered a safe Progressive Conservative riding, Scarborough Southwest was Liberal for almost 15 years until Begum won it for the New Democrats in 2018. The Conservatives placed second in last year’s provincial election and the Liberals third.
“It’s going to be a tough fight,” interim Liberal leader John Fraser acknowledged recently.
The Liberal candidate, Ahsanul Hafiz, the owner of 30 Domino’s Pizza outlets, narrowly beat Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith of neighbouring Beaches—East York for the nomination May 9. Erskine-Smith challenged the result but lost his appeal.
NDP candidate Fatima Shaban, a tenant advocate, was chosen April 29. She has run twice federally in Scarborough Southwest, most recently placing a distant third to Begum in an April 13 byelection with 5.9 per cent of the vote.
The premier, who in recent weeks has weathered controversy over his government’s purchase and subsequent sale of a $28.9-million private jet dubbed the “gravy plane,” held his annual Ford Fest in Scarborough on Friday night, where he was booed by protesters from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
