Canadian federal election - 2015

[Hatman 🍁]

It's the weekend, which means a whole slew of nominations.

Here's what's up today:

*Mississauga-Erin Mills, ON: There are a total of 7 candidates running for the Liberal nomination here. It's a big deal, as the riding is a potential pick up for the Grits. The Tories have already nominated the MP for Misissauga-Erindale (the predecessor riding), Rob Dechert.
*Nipissing-Timiskaming, ON: The NDP is holding their nomination in this riding, and it is between Kat Jodouin and Cat Murton Stoehr. The riding was really close in 2011, with the Tories winning it, but a slight boundary change has made it a notional Liberal seat. The Tories have already nominated the incumbent MP, Jay Aspin, and the Liberals have nominated Anthony Rota, who was the MP before losing in 2011.
*Thunder Bay-Superior North, ON: The Greens will be acclaiming the MP for this riding, Bruce Hyer, who was elected as a New Democrat in 2011 before crossing the floor. The Liberals have already nominated Patty Hajdu, a director of a homeless shelter.
*Calgary Shepard, AB: The NDP will be acclaiming IT professional Dany Allard in this new riding in the suburban southeast corner of Calgary. The Tories have already nominated a candidate, Tom Kmiec (former aide to Jason Kenney) who will no doubt become the next MP here.
*Cariboo-Prince George, BC: The Tories are holding their nomination here to find a replacement for MP Dick Harris, who will be retiring. There are three candidates,  Nick Fedorkiew, Shari Green and Todd Doherty.
*Surrey-Newton, BC: The Liberals will be holding their nomination today in this new riding. The favourite has to be Sukh Dhaliwal who was the MP for Newton-North Delta before losing in 2011. He is running against Randeep Singh Sarai. The NDP has already nominated the MP for Newton-North Delta, Jinny Sims, who defeated Dhaliwal in 2011.

[Poirot]

*Calgary Shepard, AB: The NDP will be acclaiming IT professional Dany Allard in this new riding in the suburban southeast corner of Calgary. The Tories have already nominated a candidate, Tom Kmiec (former aide to Jason Kenney) who will no doubt become the next MP here.

Interesting. The last name of the Conservative candidate rang a bell. With the magic of the internet it looks like the same guy who wanted the Conservative nomination in Brossard - La Prairie and then withdrew. That was 8 years ago. On his Calgary riding website it says he lived in Québec. If he wants to be a Conservative MP it's better to run in Calgary than suburban Montreal.

http://www.lereflet.qc.ca/2006/12/16/un-deuxieme-candidat-se-retire-de-la-course-des-conservateurs

[Hatman 🍁]

Interesting.

Iqra Khalid, a legal professional and Pakistani immigrant won the Liberal nomination in Mississauga-Erin Mills. She won on the first ballot, which is surprising, since there was seven candidates.

Kathleen Jodouin, a community development coordinator, won the NDP nomination in Nipissing-Timiskaming.

[Hatman 🍁]

Not surprisingly, former MP Sukh Dhaliwal was nominated in Surrey-Newton for the Liberals. Manager Todd Doherty won the nod for the Tories in Cariboo-Prince George.

Nominations today:

*Gatineau, QC: Liberals will pick between Steve Mackninnon and Pierre Samson to run in this riding that is held by former Liberal Francoise Boivin of the NDP.
*Jonquiere, QC: The Liberals will acclaim Melanie Boucher to run. She was the CAQ candidate in Jonquiere in the recent Quebec provincial election. The NDP have already nominated Karine Trudel, who is the president of the Union of Canada Post Employees. The incumbent MP is Claude Patry, who was elected as a New Democrat, but joined the Bloc.
*Beaches-East York, ON: There is a four-way race for the Liberal nod in this NDP-held riding. This is big pick up opportunity for the Grits. The NDP have already nominated the incumbent, Matthew Kellway and the Tories have nominated businessman Bill Burrows, who was the candidate for the party in 2011.
*Abbotsford, BC: The NDP will acclaim labour unionist Jennifer Martel. The Tories have already nominated the incumbent, Ed Fast.
*Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, BC. The Liberals hold their nomination meeting in this new riding, but no word on the candidates. The Tories have already nominated the incumbent MP for Oakanagan-Coquihalla, Dan Albas.

[Hatman 🍁]

Lawyer Nate Erskine-Smith wins the Liberal nod in Beaches-East York

[Hatman 🍁]

Administrator Steve MacKinnon was chosen by the Liberals to run in Gatineau. He was their candidate in 2011.

Karley Scott, a Metis lawyer won the Liberal nomination in Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

Today: The NDP will acclaim their candidate in Gatineau, Fancoise Boivin, who is the incumbent.  She will take on Mackinnon in what could likely be an NDP-Liberal race.

[RogueBeaver]

So, will there be 6 podiums on the debate stages?

[DL]

So, will there be 6 podiums on the debate stages?

I predict that the networks will find a way to exclude the leaders of the the three "micro-parties" and have a debate just between the "big three"

[DC Al Fine]

That's what we need, not one, but two Quebec-only leaders clogging up the English debate.

[Linus Van Pelt]

Lawyer Nate Erskine-Smith wins the Liberal nod in Beaches-East York

LOL, when I saw this (Nate + double-barreled last name) I immediately thought "classic 80's name, I bet this guy's about my age", and sure enough, he appears to be born roughly 1984 from his degree dates (assuming he didn't skip a year), same year as me.

[Hatman 🍁]

Perhaps the media will change the rules to exclude parties that do no run a full slate. I think Elizabeth May has earned her right to be in the debate at this point.

[Vosem]

Seems rather unfair to change the rules as the campaign is starting. They can change for them for the election after this one (whether that's 2016 or 2019), but I think, for 2015, Mario Beaulieu, Jean-François Fortin, and Elizabeth May should all be included along with the top three.

[RogueBeaver]

We've had 5, they won't see 6 as a big deal. As long as it's more like 2008 and less like the Chretien-era debates. Though unlike then, I don't think we'll have major linguistic issues.

1993: http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/Politics/Elections/Leaders'+Debates+1968-2011/ID/1848457848/

1997: http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/Politics/Elections/Leaders'+Debates+1968-2011/ID/1848407405/

[Hatman 🍁]

Today is the Liberal nomination in Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB, a new suburban riding in the northwest corner of Calgary. CBC News Anchor Nirmala Naidoo has to be the favourite against Qamar Khan. The Conservatives will name their candidate at a further date, but have 5 candidates running so far in this safe Tory corner of the city.

[lilTommy]

Whoa... NDP MP Glen Thibeault is going to run for the OLP in the Sudbury by-election
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/12/16/ndp_mp_defects_to_run_for_wynnes_liberals_in_sudbury.html%C2%A0

Wonder what the heck happened there! That's a pretty extreme move, I could understand if he had an issue with Mulcair to run for the ONDP but to jump ship.
Its a risky move, Glen now has to run under all the OLP baggage and recent bad news around their messes and the whole nomination issue (offering the former candidate "something" to not contest) AND he will face the same ire and hate that Hyer is facing for jumping ship. Big grab for the OLP but I don't know if that will work, the NDP needs a pretty strong candidate now provincially...

[MaxQue]

Seems rather unfair to change the rules as the campaign is starting. They can change for them for the election after this one (whether that's 2016 or 2019), but I think, for 2015, Mario Beaulieu, Jean-François Fortin, and Elizabeth May should all be included along with the top three.

I doubt than Mario Beaulieu would go to the English debate if included.

[morgieb]

Ha! There are no famous Canadian cricketers. A coup nonetheless, considering I'm not aware of any athletes who have ever run for the NDP.

The most famous is Australian

[DL]

Seems rather unfair to change the rules as the campaign is starting. They can change for them for the election after this one (whether that's 2016 or 2019), but I think, for 2015, Mario Beaulieu, Jean-François Fortin, and Elizabeth May should all be included along with the top three.

I doubt than Mario Beaulieu would go to the English debate if included.

Beaulieu actually speaks English quite well and would relish the chance to be as disruptive as possible in the English language debate if given the chance

[Hatman 🍁]

Nirmala Naidoo wins the Liberal nomination in Calgary Rocky Ridge.

Tonight is the Liberal nomination in Ajax, ON. Former Pickering-Ajax MP Mark Holland will be acclaimed. He lost to Tory Chris Alexander in 2011, and will face him again in 2015 in the re-drawn riding, as the Tories have already nominated the incumbent.

[Hatman 🍁]

Yesterday was the Liberal nomination in the new riding of Burnaby South, BC. Banker Adam Pankratz defeated Ken Beck Lee to win the nod. The NDP have already nominated the incumbent from Burnaby-Douglas, Kennedy Stewart. Burnaby-Douglas is being divided into Burnaby North-Seymour and Burnaby South, and Stewart chose to run in the safer riding, as Burnaby North-Seymour is a notional Tory seat.

Tonight is the Liberal nomination in Yellowhead, AB where we just had a by-election. The Liberals will acclaim their by-election candidate, Ryan Heinz Maguhn tonight. Tory MP Jim Eglinsky gets to automatically be the Conservative candidate because he won the by-election. The Libertarians have also nominated a candidate, Cory Lystang.

[Hatman 🍁]

The last nomination meeting of the year will be on Monday in Whitby, ON, where the Liberals will be nominating Celina Caesar-Chavennes, who was their by-election candidate in Whitby-Ajax. By virtue of winning that by-election, the Conservative candidate will be former Whitby mayor Pat Perkins, so there will be a rematch. 

[Clyde1998]

EKOS Poll:
Lib - 31.8% (+12.9% on 2011 election)
Con - 30.8% (-8.8% on 2011 election)
NDP - 20.0% (-10.6% on 2011 election)
Grn - 7.8% (+3.9% on 2011 election)
BQ - 5.0% (-1.0% on 2011 election)

[136or142]

Ha! There are no famous Canadian cricketers. A coup nonetheless, considering I'm not aware of any athletes who have ever run for the NDP.

I'm most familar with B.C
1.Chris Wilson, 2013 provincial candidate in Coquitlam-Burke Mountain. Early 1990s wrestling world champion and Olympian.  Got elected to Coquitlam city council in 2014

2.Betty Baxter, 1993 federal candidate in Vancouver Centre (against Kim Campbell). 1976 Olympics Volleyball player and later head coach.  Now a Sunshine Coast (British Columbia) school trustee.

3.Jagrup Brar.  NDP MLA in Surrey-Panorama Ridge (later named Surrey-Fleetwood) from 2004-2013 (narrowly defeated in 2013).  Former Indian national team basketball player.

4.Elizabeth Roseneau, 2013 provincial candidate in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.  I don't know if she's an athlete herself but she is the head coach of the Special Olympics swim team.

5.Nic Slater, 2013 provincial candidate in Delta South and 2011 federal nominee in Delta-Richmond East. A former ski coach in Whistler and former member of the Search and Rescue team.

and of course most famously in B.C
6.Emery Barnes, Vancouver-Burrard MLA from 1972-1996 former CFL player (and I believe he also played briefly in the NFL)

Other provinces
Ontario
1.Taras Natyshak, Essex MPP 2011- I don't know if he's an athlete but he used to own a fitness centre.

also Bob Rae, though not a professional, was a highly skilled tennis player.

Manitoba
1.Kevin Chief, Point Douglas MLA and Minister of Jobs and the Economy and Minister responsible for Winnipeg was a college basketball player and a two-time First Team Great Canadian Athletic Conference All Star.

Finally
Saskatchewan
1.Tommy Douglas, very famous for being an amateur boxer.

This list is likely far from complete.

[136or142]

1 more candidate nomination news (B.C of course)
Angelique Wood Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola will be acclaimed on January 17.  She is former Director with the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District.  Defeated in 2014.

[136or142]

Couple more NDP athletes
Quebec
1.Paul Vachon, former pro wrestler in the 1950s or 1960s, ran in Quebec in 1988 federal election.

Manitoba
1.Ron Lemieux, MLA for La Verendrye 1999-, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage/ Sports and Consumer Protection, former professional hockey player, played in the USHL for one season, drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins