Montreal city councillor to represent Liberals in byelection
Montreal city councillor Laura Palestini is running for the Liberals in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun
Montreal municipal politician Laura Palestini will represent the incumbent Liberals in the upcoming byelection for the vacant LaSalle-Émard-Verdun seat.
Palestini has served four terms on the LaSalle borough council, and is currently in her first term on Montreal's city council. Campaign co-chair Soraya Martinez told Radio-Canada Palestini was handpicked by the Liberal Party to run. The seat became vacant with the resignation of former justice minister David Lametti in January.
"I know the challenges and opportunities that families face here in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun and I am ready to fight for our priorities as your next member of Parliament," Palestini said in a media release.
"Together, we can build more homes and protect renters, strengthen our public health care, fight climate change and create well-paying new jobs, and make sure everyone in our community has a fair shot at success."
A date has not yet been called for this byelection; Elections Canada says the date must be announced by July 30.
The NDP will be represented in the race by another Montreal city councillor, Craig Sauvé, and the Green Party is running former candidate for the party federal council Jency Mercier.
The Conservatives have not yet announced a candidate but party leader Pierre Poilievre has made several appearances in Montreal since Parliament went on its summer recess.
The Liberals have won LaSalle-Émard-Verdun in each election since the riding was formed in 2015.
The Liberals lost the recent Toronto-St. Paul's byelection to Conservative Don Stewart last month in a contest they were expected to win. That riding had been held by veteran Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett since 1997.