Voters in Ottawa and Niagara will go to the polls in key Nov. 17 byelections crucial to the political prospects of both Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown. Wynne, who triggered the contests on Wednesday, is desperate to retain Ottawa-Vanier, a Liberal stronghold that had been held by former attorney general Madeleine Meilleur, who retired in June. Brown, who is enjoying a two-byelection winning streak since becoming Tory leader in May 2015, is desperate to prove the PC win by Raymond Cho last month in Scarborough-Rouge River was not a fluke. While his Conservatives should hold Niagara West-Glanbrook, where five PC hopefuls are vying for the nomination to replace former leader Tim Hudak, all eyes are on Ottawa-Vanier. That’s where former Ontario ombudsman André Marin is carrying the blue flag.

Source: thestar October 19, 2016 16:30 UTC