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Byelections in 4 vacant federal ridings set for March

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Saturday, December 22, 2007 | 05:41 PM ET

The election race is on in four vacant federal ridings as Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Friday that byelections will be held on March 17.

The ridings are: Toronto Centre (Ontario); Willowdale (Ontario); Vancouver Quadra (British Columbia); and Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River (Saskatchewan).

However, if the Liberals defeat a confidence motion in the House of Commons, all Canadians will be heading to the polls before the four byelections are ever held.

The Toronto Centre riding was left vacant after Liberal MP Bill Graham stepped down from his post in June. Two days after Graham resigned, longtime MP Jim Peterson announced his retirement, leaving the Willowdale riding vacant. Vancouver Quadra was left wide open after Liberal MP Stephen Owen resigned in July.

Gary Merasty had held the seat of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River for the Liberals since the January 2006 election. In July, he stepped down to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.

Conservative MP James Moore doesn't dispute that the timing of the byelections may be related to a looming election.

FULL STORY

Do you think these byelections will be a kind of a litmus test for the Harper government, indicating which way the political winds are blowing? What about the timing?

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