Election Update: Quebec heads to the polls and by-elections take shape |
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| August 10th, 2012 by Student Vote | Leave Comments » |
The London 2012 Olympics end on Sunday and many Canadians will realize that there have been plenty of important political developments across the country over the past two weeks.
In Québec, the 2012 provincial election is underway. The province heads to the polls on September 4th, and an exciting three-way race has begun. Liberal Premier Jean Charest called the election on August 1st and his currently challenged by Parti Québecois (PQ) leader Pauline Marois and Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) leader François Legault.
Charest was first elected in April 2003, but his government has recently been plagued by student protests and corruption allegations. As well, Québec is currently fighting a large provincial debt. Québec separatism continues to be a political issue, with the Liberals and CAQ stating that they are strongly against it; alternatively, the PQ are supporters of an independent Québec .
Although we are not running a program in Quebec, we will keep you up to date on election news. For more information on youth engagement for the Québec election, check out Voters in Training (Électeurs en herbe) and Institut du Nouveau Monde.
In Manitoba, a provincial by-election will take place on September 4th. Fort Whyte MLA (and previous PC leader) Hugh McFadyen resigned his seat on July 30th. The race to replace him includes Brandy Schmidt of the NDP, Brian Pallister of PC, Bob Axworthy from the Liberal Party, Donnie Benham of the Green Party, and independent candidate Darrell Ackman. Fort Whyte was won by the PC in the 2011 Manitoba Student Vote.
In Ontario, two provincial by-elections will culminate on September 6th. Preparations for the Kitchener-Waterloo by-election began in April when PC MPP Elizabeth Witmer resigned. On August 1st, Vaughan’s Liberal MPP Greg Sorbara also stepped down.
In Kitchener-Waterloo, all candidates have now been nominated. Tracey Weiler will try to maintain the traditionally PC riding while being challenged by Eric Davis of the Liberals, Catherine Fife of the NDP, Stacey Dankert of the Green Party, and Libertarian candidate Allan Detweiler. An all-candidates meeting will take place on August 29th at 7PM at Kitchener City Hall.
In Vaughan, the candidate list has also been finalized. Steven Del Duca will represent the Liberals, Tony Genco is running on behalf of the PC, and Paul Donofrio is the NDP candidate. Erin Goodwin of the Freedom Party, Paula Conning of the Green Party, and Paolo Fabrizio of the Green Party are also running.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty decided that both by-elections would be held on the same day; if victorious in both, the Liberals would regain a majority government. In the 2011 Ontario Student Vote, both ridings were won by the PC.
Federal by-elections are also approaching, but dates have not yet been set in Calgary Centre and Durham. Read our previous blog to learn more about the prospective candidates.
We’ve got a busy month ahead of us, so keep checking back here for more updates!
Dan
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