2024 Durham federal by-election explained

Election Name:2024 Durham federal by-election
Country:Canada
Seats For Election:Riding of Durham
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:no
Party Name:no
Previous Election:2021 Canadian federal election
Previous Year:2021
Next Election:45th Canadian federal election
Next Year:45th
Turnout:27.9%
Image1:Jamil Jivani at Fiesta Week Oshawa 06-18-2023 IMG 2275 (cropped).jpg
Candidate1:Jamil Jivani
Popular Vote1:18,610
Percentage1:57.44%
Swing1: 11.04 pp
Image3: NDP
Candidate3:Chris Borgia
Popular Vote3:3,363
Percentage3:10.38%
Swing3: 7.14 pp
Candidate2:Robert Rock
Popular Vote2:7,285
Percentage2:22.48%
Swing2: 7.44 pp
MP
Posttitle:Elected MP
Before Election:Erin O'Toole
After Election:Jamil Jivani

A by-election was held in the federal riding of Durham in Ontario on March 4, 2024, following the resignation of Conservative MP, and former Leader of the Conservative Party, Erin O'Toole.

Background

Constituency

The federal riding of Durham covers most of the southeastern part of the Regional Municipality of Durham, on the eastern edge of the Greater Toronto Area. The district includes the entirety of the Township of Scugog and roughly half of the geographic area of the Municipality of Clarington, including the communities of Bowmanville and Courtice. The riding also includes the northern part of the City of Oshawa.

This is the third iteration of a riding under this name, with the current riding coming into use in 2004, when Clarington—Scugog—Uxbridge was renamed. Durham is considered a relatively safe seat for the Conservatives, who have held the seat since 2004.[1]

Representation

The riding of Durham was vacated on August 1, 2023, following the March 31 announcement from Conservative MP Erin O'Toole that he would resign his seat, just over a year after he was removed as Leader of the Official Opposition and Conservative leader.[2] O'Toole had held the seat since a 2012 by-election in which he was elected to replace Bev Oda. The by-election was called for March 4, 2024.

Candidates

Grant Abraham, author of Battle for the Soul of Canada: Firing the Forge, Grant has worked as an international lawyer, farmer and international development director. Abraham will represent the newest formed Canadian federal party, The United Party of Canada. He attempted to run in the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election, but was deemed ineligible. He is from Calgary.[3]

The NDP candidate is electrician and education co-ordinator Chris Borgia. He ran for the Ontario New Democratic Party in Durham in the 2022 Ontario general election. He is from Pickering.[4]

The People's Party candidate is Patricia Conlin. She is the president of the Global Consulting Group Inc., is an author, international speaker and leadership trainer. She ran for the People's Party in this riding in the 2021 Canadian federal election. She is from Port Perry.[5]

Pranay Gunti is running as an independent. He is an information technology consultant from Bowmanville. He ran for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board in 2022.[6]

Jamil Jivani, a lawyer and former president of the Canada Strong and Free Network, defeated Theresa Corless to win the Conservative nomination.[7]

The Green Party candidate is Kevin McKenzie, who has served as a trustee on the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board since 2018. He works in sales and his hometown is Courtice.[8] Running for the Centrist Party of Canada is Khalid Qureshi. He is a retired engineer from Markham.[9]

Scugog councillor Robert Rock was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate, having previously sought the Conservative nomination.[10] He has served on Scugog council since 2021 and represents Ward 3, Scugog Island.[11]

The Rhino candidate is Adam Smith. He ran for the party in this riding in the 2021 election and as an Independent in the 2022 Mississauga—Lakeshore federal by-election. He is from Bowmanville.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paas-Lang . Christian . January 28, 2024 . Byelection called for Durham, Ont., seat vacated by Erin O'Toole retirement . January 29, 2024 . CBC.
  2. Web site: Taylor . Stephanie . March 31, 2023 . Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole not seeking re-election, leaving federal politics this spring . January 29, 2024 . CBC.
  3. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the candidates: Grant Abraham, United Party of Canada . 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.
  4. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the candidates: Chris Borgia - NDP . 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.
  5. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the candidates: Patricia Conlin - People's Party of Canada . 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.
  6. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the candidates: Pranay Gunti - Independent . 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.
  7. News: 2023-08-20 . Jamil Jivani wins federal Conservative candidacy in GTA riding of Durham . 2024-01-29 . The Globe and Mail . en-CA.
  8. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the Candidates: Kevin MacKenzie — Green. 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.
  9. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the Candidates: Khalid Qureshi - Centrist Party . 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.
  10. Web site: Djuric . Mickey . January 4, 2024 . Liberals pick byelection candidate who first tried running for Tories . January 29, 2024 . CBC.
  11. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the candidates: Robert Rock - Liberal . 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.
  12. News: 2023-02-23 . Meet the candidates: Adam Smith - Rhino . 2024-03-01. DurhamRegion.com . en-CA.