PM Harper calls 4 Byelections for November 9th

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today called four (4) by-elections to be conducted on Monday, November 9th, 2009 in the following Federal Electoral Districts:

1) New Westminister - Coquitlam, BC. Dawn Black resigned this seat to run in the 2009 Provincial General Election here in BC. The Federal Conservatives Candidate might be hurt by the recent agreement between the BC Liberals' and the Federal Conservatives to combine BC's Provincial Sales Tax and the Federal Goods and Services' Tax into a combined HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) Tax of 12%.

2) Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, Nova Scotia - Bill Casey held this seat as a Conservative until in 2007, he voted against the Federal Budget over concerns about the Atlantic Accord and payments due to Nova Scotia and was kicked out of the Conservative caucus and remained as a Independent until 2009, when he resigned this seat to become Nova Scotia's point person in Ottawa. The Conservatives are heavily expected to retain this seat.

3) Hochelaga, Quebec - This seat was previously held by Réal Ménard (Bloc Quebecois) and is expected to remain with the Bloc Quebecois.

4) Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec - This seat was held previously by Paul Crête (Bloc Quebecois). It's expected to remain with the Bloc Quebecois.