By-elections to the 37th Canadian Parliament

By-elections to the 37th Canadian Parliament were held to fill vacancies in the House of Commons of Canada between the 2000 federal election and the 2004 federal election. The Liberal Party of Canada led a majority government for the entirety of the 37th Canadian Parliament, with little change from by-elections.

Sixteen seats became vacant during the life of the Parliament. Twelve of these vacancies were filled through by-elections, and four seats remained vacant when the 2004 federal election was called.

Overview
By-electionDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCauseRetained
Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière June 16, 2003 Antoine Dubé      Bloc Québécois Christian Jobin      Liberal Resigned to enter provincial politics No
Témiscamingue June 16, 2003 Pierre Brien      Bloc Québécois Gilbert Barrette      Liberal Resigned to enter provincial politics No
Perth—Middlesex May 21, 2003 John Richardson      Liberal Gary Schellenberger      Progressive Conservative Resigned No
Berthier—Montcalm December 9, 2002 Michel Bellehumeur      Bloc Québécois Roger Gaudet      Bloc Québécois Resigned Yes
Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay December 9, 2002 Stéphan Tremblay      Bloc Québécois Sébastien Gagnon      Bloc Québécois Resigned to enter provincial politics Yes
Calgary Southwest May 13, 2002 Preston Manning      Canadian Alliance Stephen Harper      Canadian Alliance Resigned Yes
Saint Boniface May 13, 2002 Ron Duhamel      Liberal Raymond Simard      Liberal Appointed to the Senate Yes
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception May 13, 2002 Brian Tobin      Liberal John Efford      Liberal Resigned Yes
Gander—Grand Falls May 13, 2002 George Baker      Liberal Rex Barnes      Progressive Conservative Appointed to the Senate No
Windsor West May 13, 2002 Herb Gray      Liberal Brian Masse      New Democratic Resigned to accept appointment as Chair of the Canadian Section of the International Joint Commission No
Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel May 13, 2002 Alfonso Gagliano      Liberal Massimo Pacetti      Liberal Resigned to accept appointment as Ambassador to Denmark Yes
Verdun—Saint-Henri—Saint-Paul—Pointe Saint-Charles May 13, 2002 Raymond Lavigne      Liberal Liza Frulla      Liberal Appointed to the Senate Yes

2002

Nine federal by-elections were held in 2002.

Berthier—Montcalm, Quebec

At a cocktail party on May 18, 2002, Michel Bellehumeur, Member of Parliament for Berthier—Montcalm, announced his plan to resign from the House of Commons to run for the Parti Québécois in the provincial riding of Joliette, following the resignation of PQ minister Guy Chevrette.[1]

By-election on Mr. Bellehumeur's resignation, 9 December 2002:
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Bloc QuébécoisRoger Gaudet13,747
  Liberal Richard Giroux 11,646
  New Democratic Party François Rivest 977
  Progressive Conservative Richard Lafleur 598
AllianceRéal Naud475

Lac-Saint-Jean—Saguenay, Quebec
By-election on 9 December 2002

Tremblay's resignation, 7 May 2002

Party Candidate Votes
Bloc QuébécoisSébastien Gagnon8,912
LiberalGilbert Tremblay7,594
IndependentGilles Lavoie532
IndependentRichard Harvey467
Progressive ConservativeClermont Gauthier434
AllianceAlcide Boudreault290
New DemocraticYanick Auer267

Calgary Southwest, Alberta

Upon his election as leader of the Canadian Alliance, Stephen Harper needed a seat in the House of Commons. Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning resigned his seat to provide a seat for Harper. Harper previously represented the neighbouring riding of Calgary West from 1993–1997, but the seat was already held by MP Rob Anders.

The Liberal Party did not run a candidate against Harper, as a courtesy to allow Harper (as leader of the opposition) to win his seat.

The NDP selected Bill Phipps, a former leader of the United Church, minister and social activist in the city. Phipps challenged Harper's conservative economic and social views. During the campaign, Harper commented he "despise[d]" the cleric , and declined to debate him.

The Green Party chose environmental activist James Kohut, who had previously spoken out in support of the Kyoto Accord and against government subsidies for oil companies, while also calling for lower gas prices for consumers (Calgary Herald, 23 December 2001).

Gordon Barrett, a former candidate for the Social Credit Party of Alberta in Sherwood Park, ran in the riding as an independent.

The leader of the Christian Heritage Party, Ron Gray, was parachuted into the riding in an attempt to win a seat for the CHP in the House of Commons.

Results
Canadian federal by-election, 13 May 2002
Party Candidate Votes%±%
On Mr. Manning's resignation, 31 January 2002
AllianceStephen Harper13,20071.66%+6.85%
New DemocraticBill Phipps3,81320.70%+16.74%
GreenJames S. Kohut6603.58%
IndependentGordon Barrett4282.32%
Christian HeritageRon Gray3201.74%
Total valid votes 18,421100.00%

On election day, Harper won decisively, winning nearly 72% of the vote. Phipps followed a distant second place, with 20% of the vote. Phipps increased the NDPs vote share by nearly seventeen percent, largely due to the lack of a candidate from the Liberal Party.

Saint Boniface, Manitoba
Canadian federal by-election, 13 May 2002
Party Candidate Votes%±%
On Mr. Duhamel being called to the Senate, 15 January 2002
LiberalRaymond Simard8,86242.8-9.3
AllianceDenis Simard4,49721.7-1.4
Progressive ConservativeMike Reilly3,58317.35.7
New DemocraticJohn Parry3,10615.0+2.0
MarijuanaChris Buors4352.1
Christian HeritageJean-Paul Kabashiki2101.0
Total valid votes 20,693 100.0

Bonavista—Trinity—Conception, Newfoundland and Labrador
By-election on 13 May 2002

On Mr. Tobin's resignation, 25 January 2002

Party Candidate Votes
LiberalJohn Efford18,665
Progressive ConservativeMichelle Brazil5,281
New DemocraticJim Gill588
AllianceDavid Tulett166
GreenChristopher John Bradshaw139
IndependentBrent Rockwood106

Gander—Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador
By-election on 13 May 2002

On Mr. Baker being called to the Senate, 26 March 2002

Party Candidate Votes
Progressive ConservativeRex Barnes9,273
LiberalBeaton Tulk8,552
New DemocraticJohn Lannon873
AllianceGarry Hartle422

Windsor West, Ontario

The Right Honourable Herb Gray had represented the Windsor-Essex area for nearly forty years when he retired in 2002 to accept a job as Canadian Chair of the International Joint Commission. A by-election was scheduled for May 22, 2002.

The incumbent Liberals chose Richard Pollock, a local lawyer and Liberal organizer, having worked on federal and provincial campaigns in Windsor since 1979. He also served on the executive of the Windsor West Provincial Liberal Association, was the area organizer for the Essex Windsor Liberal Association and worked on Jean Chretien's leadership campaign in 1990.[2]

The NDP chose Brian Masse, a municipal politician in Windsor's city council.

The Progressive Conservative Party chose Ian West, who had run against Gray in the previous election. The Canadian Alliance chose Rick Fuschi, an employee in the auto industry.

Chris Holt represented the Green Party and the Christian Heritage Party chose Allan James, a chemical engineer.

Results
Canadian federal by-election, May 13, 2002: Windsor West
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticBrian Masse14,02142.69+26.79$65,195
LiberalRichard Pollock11,54435.15−19.06$64,964
AllianceRick Fuschi5,42016.50−6.45$60,657
Progressive ConservativeIan West9572.91−2.62$11,212
GreenChris Holt6551.99–$9,246
Christian HeritageAllan James2490.76–$2,072
Total valid votes 32,846 99.39
Total rejected ballots 200 0.61
Turnout 33,046 43.01
Electors on the lists 76,825
     New Democratic Party gain from Liberal

The NDP, with Brian Masse, increased their vote by over twenty-five percent, becoming the MP for the riding. The incumbent Liberals lost nearly twenty percent of their vote, coming in a distant second place. The Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives also had a reduction in their vote.

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, Quebec
Canadian federal by-election, 13 May 2002
Party Candidate Votes%±%
On Mr. Gagliano being named Ambassador to Denmark, 15 January 2002
LiberalMassimo Pacetti14,07683.5+6.9
Bloc QuébécoisUmberto Di Genova1,4958.9-5.6
Progressive ConservativeAntonio Cordeiro6343.8+1.5
New DemocraticNormand Caplette4472.7+1.5
MarijuanaMarc-Boris St-Maurice1971.2-0.2
Total valid votes 16,849 100.0

Verdun—Saint-Henri—Saint-Paul—Pointe-Saint-Charles, Quebec
By-election on 13 May 2002

Lavigne appointed to Senate

Party Candidate Votes
LiberalLiza Frulla10,897
Bloc QuébécoisSonia Goulet4,432
Progressive ConservativeBernard Côté735
New DemocraticMatthew McLauchlin635
AllianceJoe De Santis241
IndependentRobert Lindblad113

2003

Three federal by-elections were held in 2003 to fill vacancies in the House of Commons of Canada. These elections were all held during the 37th Canadian Parliament, but at different dates. One election, in the Ontario riding of Perth—Middlesex, was held on May 21, 2003, while the other two by-elections, in the Quebec ridings of Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière and Témiscamingue, were held on June 16

Three seats were vacant at parliament's dissolution. Ottawa Centre became vacant when Liberal Mac Harb was appointed to the Senate on September 9, 2003; Liberal Jean Chrétien resigned as MP for Saint-Maurice on December 12, 2003 when he retired as prime minister and Liberal Allan Rock resigned his Etobicoke Centre seat on December 12, 2003 upon being appointed Ambassador to the United Nations. These vacancies were filled at the subsequent general election rather than through by-elections.

Perth—Middlesex, Ontario

In the 2000 election, Liberal John Richardson was re-elected in the riding of Perth—Middlesex, defeating his rival, Progressive Conservative Gary Schellenberger by approximately 5,000 votes. Schellenberger had run against Richardson in 1997, and had received about 25% of the vote.[3] During the 2000 election campaign, rumours about Richardson's health began to come out, specifically after he missed four all-candidates meetings during the election. He barely campaigned in the 1997 election due to what was thought to be a serious medical condition.[4]

Eventually, Richardson resigned his seat on October 11, 2002, citing personal reasons.[4][5] It would be revealed years later that Richardson suffered from Alzheimer's Disease.[6]

The resulting by-election was scheduled for May 21, 2003. Gary Schellenberger again ran for the Progressive Conservatives, with the NDP choosing their candidate in the 2000 election, Sam DiNicol to run again.[3] The Liberal party chose farmer and educator Brian Innes, while the Canadian Alliance chose businesswoman Marian Meinen. The Leader of the Christian Heritage Party, Ron Gray, was a parachute candidate in the by-election, in an attempt to give his party representation in parliament.

Results
By-election on May 21, 2003

Resignation of John Richardson

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive ConservativeGary Schellenberger10,41333.8+6.4
LiberalBrian Innes9,41230.5–9.9
AllianceMarian Meinen5,40017.5–5.8
New DemocraticSam Dinicol4,70315.3+8.6
Christian HeritageRon Gray9022.9+1.0

On election day, Schellenberger defeated Innes by 1,000 votes. The Liberal's loss of the riding to Progressive Conservative candidate Gary Schellenberger was blamed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on Richardson's reluctance to leave Canadian politics when his health began deteriorating.[7]

Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, Quebec

Antoine Dubé, Bloc Québécois MP since 1993, resigned his seat on March 17, 2003 to run in the 2003 Quebec provincial election as a Parti Québécois candidate in Chutes-de-la-Chaudière. That election, held April 14, 2003, was won by Marc Picard.

Prime Minister Chrétien scheduled this by-election, as well as the Témiscamingue by-election, for June 16, 2003.

The Bloc Québécois chose Maxime Frechette, former parliamentary assistant to Antoine Dubé and former alderman for the city of Saint-Nicolas.[8] The Liberal Party chose accountant Christian Jobin, the NDP chose social worker Louise Foisy from Lévis, the Progressive Conservatives chose law student and security guard Yohan Nolet from Saint-Nicolas, the Green Party chose industrial entrepreneur Yonnel Bonaventure from Quebec City, the Canadian Alliance chose Philippe Bouchard, a designer from Quebec City and the Marijuana Party chose Benjamin Kasapoglu, a salesperson from Quebec City[9]

Results
Canadian federal by-election, June 16, 2003
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalChristian Jobin13,11555.6+21.5
Bloc QuébécoisMaxime Fréchette8,27435.1-6.7
New DemocraticLouise Foisy9874.2+2.0
Progressive ConservativeYohan Nolet5372.3-4.4
GreenYonnel Bonaventure2541.1
AlliancePhilippe Bouchard2200.9-13.6
MarijuanaBenjamin Kasapoglu1860.8

The results showed a two-way race between the Liberal Party and the Bloc Québécois, with all other parties not breaking over 5% of the vote. The Liberals increased their vote-share by 21.5% and Christian Jobin was elected MP for the riding. The BQ decreased its vote by nearly 7%, while the Canadian Alliance faced a 13.6% decline in results, bringing their candidate down to 6th place out of seven candidates.

Témiscamingue, Quebec

Pierre Brien of the Bloc Québécois, who, like his colleague Antoine Dubé, was elected in 1993, also decided to run in the 2003 Quebec provincial election. Unlike Dubé, however, Brien decided to run as a member of Action démocratique du Québec. In order to do this, he left the Bloc Québécois to sit as an independent before resigning on March 14, 2003. Brien ran as the ADQ's candidate in Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue, losing to Liberal candidate Daniel Bernard.

Results
By-election on May 21, 2003

Resignation of Pierre Brien

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalGilbert Barrette10,19557.0+14.3
Bloc QuébécoisSylvain Sauvageau6,28735.2-14.9
Progressive ConservativeRachel Lord7334.1+2.0
New DemocraticDennis Shushack5873.3+2.0
AllianceClarence Marshall820.5–3.1

References
  1. Authier, Philip; Thompson, Elizabeth; Hanes, Allison (8 May 2002). "Second MP dumps Bloc to run for PQ". The Gazette (Montreal).
  2. "CBC - Canada Votes 2004". CBC News. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  3. http://www.punditsguide.ca/riding/?riding=173&cmdGoRiding=Go Pundits Guide.ca Perth--Middlesex
  4. "Richardson resigns seat immediately". The Hill Times. 14 October 2002. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  5. House of Commons Debates (Hansard): 11 October 2002, resignation of Richardson and tributes, accessed 29 July 2006
  6. http://www.stratfordgazette.com/news/article/89733 Former MP John Richardson remembered as a 'true public servant'
  7. Lawton, Valerie (14 May 2003). "MP's tardy resignation led to by-election loss: PM ; Says ill Liberal should have quit sooner Comment outrages some Martin backers". Toronto Star. p. A8.
  8. "Élection partielle dans Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière : Maxime Fréchette élu candidat du Bloc Québécois" (in French). Bloc Quebecois. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  9. "Pundits Guide.ca Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière". Retrieved 11 February 2012.

See also
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