July 23, 2015 by admin

Wynne dismisses request for quick byelection from Brown

BARRIE, Ont. — Premier Kathleen Wynne is dismissing a request from Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown to call an immediate byelection so he can seek a seat in the legislature before the fall session begins.
Wynne says she’s “eager to let Brown have his shot” at getting a seat, but will wait until after the Oct. 19 federal election before calling the byelection.
Veteran Tory Garfield Dunlop announced Wednesday he was resigning as MPP for Simcoe North as of Aug. 1 so Brown could run in the riding and get a seat before the house resumes Sept. 14.
Brown resigned his seat in Parliament as the MP for Barrie after he won the provincial PC leadership in May, and Wynne said at the time she would call a byelection as soon as he could find a riding.
Brown wrote an open letter to Wynne today urging her to schedule the byelection in August so he can be in the legislature as the Official Opposition leader in September.
He says the Simcoe North byelection could be completed before the federal election is “significantly underway,” but Wynne says an August byelection “is impossible” given the federal pre-election period.
The Tories point out Wynne moved very quickly last February to call a byelection in Sudbury after the Liberals convinced New Democrat MP Glenn Thibeault to quit his seat, and his party, to run for them provincially.