Trudeau announces dates for Manitoba and Quebec byelections

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced two federal byelections to be held on Sept. 16, according to a government release Sunday morning.

The byelections will be held in the ridings of Elmwood-Transcona in Winnipeg and LaSalle—Émard—Verdun in Montreal.

NDP MP Daniel Blaikie resigned from his seat in Elmwood-Transcona to work more closely with Premier Wab Kinew, leaving federal politics after nearly a decade of service.

The federal Liberals named Ian MacIntyre as their candidate for the ballot.

"I'm so honoured to be your Team Trudeau candidate for the upcoming by-election in Elmwood-Transcona! Together, we can build more homes, strengthen our public health care, and build a better future for all Manitobans," MacIntyre wrote in a Facebook post.

The teacher and union leader will be running against local construction electrician Colin Reynolds for the federal Conservatives and the NDP's Leila Dance, former executive director of the Transcona Business Improvement Zone.

Montreal's LaSalle—Emard—Verdun seat has been empty since the January resignation of former justice minister David Lametti, who tendered his resignation after being ejected from Trudeau's cabinet last July.

"It is with some sadness that I am leaving a dream job. Since the changes made to cabinet in the summer of 2023, I have continued to do my best to fulfill my duties as a member of Parliament," Lametti said. He had been the MP for the riding since 2015.

Trudeau hand-picked Montreal city Coun. Laura Palestini as the party's candidate – a move that denounced as "anti-democratic" by one of the three other aspiring candidates for the riding, Lori Morrison.

After going door-to-door to sign up memberships, the local school commissioner said she couldn't believe the Liberals would abandon its plans for a nomination meeting. Liberal campaign co-chair Soraya Martinez Ferrada said it was, ultimately, Trudeau's decision to prevent party members from choosing the candidate.

Palestini won't be the only municipal councillor on the ballot. She will face NDP's Craig Suave, who represents the city's Sud-Ouest borough. The Conservatives named Louis Ialenti as its candidate, describing him as a "common-sense small business owner." The Bloc Quebecois has not yet announced a candidate.

The September byelections will test the Liberals' electoral strength after a stunning upset in the Toronto this past June. The federal Liberals lost their longtime stronghold of Toronto-St.Paul's to Conservative candidate Don Stewart, who carried the seat by just over 590 votes.

With files from The Canadian Press