Candidates (mostly) ready to roll for election
Candidates (mostly) ready to roll for election
By LISA QUEEN
September 04, 2008 2:30 PM
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to make the call by this weekend to send Canadians to the polls for an election next month.

But voters in Don Valley West have already had a head start on seeing what their candidates are all about.

Last month, Harper set a byelection in the riding for Sept. 22 to replace former Liberal MP John Godfrey, who resigned to take over as headmaster of the Toronto French School.

If Harper, as expected, calls a general election for Oct. 14, the byelection will be cancelled and Don Valley West voters will head to the polls the same day as other Canadians.

Carrying the Liberal banner in Don Valley West is Rob Oliphant while John Carmichael is running for the Conservatives.

David Sparrow is the NDP candidate and Georgina Wilcock is running for the Green Party.

In Willowdale, Martha Hall Findlay, who won a byelection in March, is running as the Liberal incumbent.

Determining the Conservative candidate in Willowdale, and other ridings, proves more difficult.

A spokesperson for the federal Conservative party said a media representative would have to provide the names of candidates but the representative was unavailable for comment Wednesday and Thursday.

The party's website only appears to list incumbents, as opposed to all the candidates who will be running in an election. There are no Conservative MPs in Toronto.

Lou Carcasole is running for the Green Party in Willowdale, while the NDP must still choose a candidate.

In Don Valley East, the Liberal candidate is incumbent Yasmin Ratansi, while the NDP candidate is Mary Trapani Hynes and the Green candidate is Wayne Clements.

In York South-Weston, only election signs for Liberal incumbent Alan Tonks and Conservative candidate Aydan Cocelli will go up immediately if the election is called this weekend. The New Democrats and Green Party have yet to choose candidates in this riding.

The race in York Centre will feature Liberal incumbent Ken Dryden and Green candidate Rosemary Frei. The NDP must still select its candidate.

In York West, Liberal incumbent Judy Sgro will face off against New Democrat Julio Manfrini and Green candidate Nick Capra.