Loading....
x
Premier Dalton McGuinty was to find out Thursday night whether his Ontario Liberals will hang on to a downtown Toronto seat vacated by his former right-hand man, George Smitherman.
The polls opened at 9 a.m. and will closed at 9 p.m. in Toronto Centre, the provincial riding that Smitherman held for nearly 10 years.
Former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, who hoped to keep the seat for the Liberals, faced off against street nurse and NDP candidate Cathy Crowe, Progressive Conservative candidate Pam Taylor and Green party candidate Stefan Premdas.
Smitherman, who left provincial politics to run for mayor of Toronto, won by a huge majority in the 2007 provincial election.
Bob Rae, a Liberal convert who served as Ontario’s NDP premier, holds the riding federally.
In the lead up to the byelection, opposition parties expressed confidence that perceived voter anger over the harmonized sales tax would weaken the Liberals this time around.
The riding is home to almost 93,000 eligible voters and a diverse community that includes Toronto’s gay village, poverty-stricken Regent Park, new immigrants in St. James Town, wealthy families in Rosedale and upwardly mobile professionals who have taken up residence in recently sprouted condominiums.
The plan to merge the provincial sales tax with the GST didn’t prevent a win in the riding of St. Paul’s last fall, however, and McGuinty has said he’s confident people will understand that it’s the right move in the end.
The polls opened at 9 a.m. and will closed at 9 p.m. in Toronto Centre, the provincial riding that Smitherman held for nearly 10 years.
Former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, who hoped to keep the seat for the Liberals, faced off against street nurse and NDP candidate Cathy Crowe, Progressive Conservative candidate Pam Taylor and Green party candidate Stefan Premdas.
Smitherman, who left provincial politics to run for mayor of Toronto, won by a huge majority in the 2007 provincial election.
Bob Rae, a Liberal convert who served as Ontario’s NDP premier, holds the riding federally.
In the lead up to the byelection, opposition parties expressed confidence that perceived voter anger over the harmonized sales tax would weaken the Liberals this time around.
The riding is home to almost 93,000 eligible voters and a diverse community that includes Toronto’s gay village, poverty-stricken Regent Park, new immigrants in St. James Town, wealthy families in Rosedale and upwardly mobile professionals who have taken up residence in recently sprouted condominiums.
The plan to merge the provincial sales tax with the GST didn’t prevent a win in the riding of St. Paul’s last fall, however, and McGuinty has said he’s confident people will understand that it’s the right move in the end.
|
User Comments & Ratings | Comment as guest | |
| Title: |
| Comment: |
more local stories
Random tests show marijuana drug of choice in Canadian military ranks
OTTAWA - Marijuana is the illegal drug of choice in the Canadian Forces, according to the first random tests of the entire military.
Ontario to unveil new Taser guidelines
TORONTO - Ontario is poised to revamp its guidelines on the use of stun guns by police, The Canadian Press has learned.
Man found with stolen goods after hailing cruiser with middle finger
KENORA, Ont. - An Edmonton man who used his middle finger to flag down a cruiser in northern Ontario has been charged with stolen property offences.
Alberta to fight oilsands 'propaganda'
CALGARY - The Alberta government will be rolling out initiatives over the next few weeks to combat "propaganda campaigns" against the oilsands, the province's energy minister told a business audience Wednesday.
Metro Canada grows to 1.3 million daily readers
While most people are drinking beer and wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Metro Canada is celebrating for a different reason. Metro Canada’s readership has continued to grow, making it the most read national daily newspaper in Canada, according to the Newspaper Audience Databank.
editor's picks
Blood-hurling Thai protesters vow to stay in capital indefinitely
BANGKOK, Thailand - Leaders of Thailand's anti-government protesters, who have hurled their own blood at the offices and home of the prime minister, said Wednesday they will remain camped out in capital indefinitely, though in smaller numbers.
Mock reality TV electrocutions probe power of TV
PARIS - A state-run TV channel is stirring controversy with a documentary about a fake game show in which credulous participants obey orders to deliver increasingly powerful electric shocks to a man, who is really an actor, until he appears to die.
Brazilian president places wreath at Arafat's tomb, risking Israeli ire
Brazil's president placed a wreath on the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Wednesday and sharply criticized Israeli policies, leading Israeli officials to suggested he was not being evenhanded.
Desperation amid abortion crackdown in former 'Abortion Republic'
SEOUL, South Korea - Having a third child wasn't in Mrs. Kim's plans. She and her husband are already struggling to get by.
Saskatchewan NDP calls for release of Tommy Douglas security files
REGINA - The Saskatchewan NDP wants the federal government to fully disclose decades-old intelligence gathered on socialist icon and former premier Tommy Douglas.
Copyright 2001-2010, Free Daily News Group Inc.