Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on the 40th General Election of October 14, 2008
Appendix 3: By-elections
March 17, 2008 by-elections held in Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, Toronto Centre, Vancouver Quadra and Willowdale
Four vacancies in the House of Commons precipitated the March 2008 by-elections.
- On August 31, 2007, Gary Merasty, the Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament for Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River since January 23, 2006, resigned, leaving his seat in the House of Commons vacant.
- On July 2, 2007, the Honourable Bill Graham, the Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre since June 28, 2004, resigned, leaving his seat in the House of Commons vacant.
- On July 27, 2007, the Honourable Stephen Owen, the Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra since November 27, 2000, resigned, leaving his seat in the House of Commons vacant.
- On July 12, 2007, the Honourable Jim Peterson, the Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament for Willowdale since November 21, 1988, resigned, leaving his seat in the House of Commons vacant.
Shortly before the issue of the writs, the Chief Electoral Officer held a teleconference call with members of the Advisory Committee of Political Parties to review material on Elections Canada's approach to particular issues or aspects of the Act, and discuss key initiatives and implications for the by-elections.
Writs were issued on December 21, 2007, directing the returning officers in Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, Toronto Centre, Vancouver Quadra and Willowdale to conduct by-elections on March 17, 2008.
For more information on the numbers of ballots cast and overall voter turnout in these by-elections, see Table 3.1. For the distribution of the valid votes obtained, by candidate, see Table 3.2.
Electoral District | Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River | Toronto Centre | Vancouver Quadra | Willowdale |
---|---|---|---|---|
Number of electors on final lists | 42,375 |
85,962 |
83,602 |
93,027 |
Ordinary poll ballots | 9,571* 91.4% |
21,735* 90.7% |
27,731* 84.0% |
21,086* 92.3% |
Advance poll ballots | 847 8.1% |
1,736 7.2% |
3,437 12.2% |
1,463 6.4% |
Special Voting Rules ballots | 57 0.5% |
482 2.0% |
1,075 3.8% |
288 1.2% |
Rejected ballots | 37 0.4% |
96 0.4% |
77 0.3% |
93 0.4% |
Total valid votes | 10,438 99.6% |
23,857 99.6% |
28,166 99.7% |
22,744 99.6% |
Total votes cast | 10,475 |
23,953 |
28,243 |
22,837 |
Voter turnout (March 2008 by-elections) |
24.7% |
27.9% |
33.8% |
24.5% |
Voter turnout (39th general election) |
58.4% |
66.5% |
67.6% |
62.8% |
Note: Because the figures have been rounded, there may be some discrepancies in the totals.
* Includes electors who voted at mobile polls.
By-election results
- In Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, Rob Clarke, the Conservative Party of Canada candidate, was elected.
- In Toronto Centre, Bob Rae, the Liberal Party of Canada candidate, was elected.
- In Vancouver Quadra, Joyce Murray, the Liberal Party of Canada candidate, was elected.
- In Willowdale, Martha Hall Findlay, the Liberal Party of Canada candidate, was elected.
Table 3.2 – Valid votes obtained, by candidate
Candidate | Political Affiliation | Place of Residence | Occupation | Valid Votes Obtained | Percentage (%) of Valid Votes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rob Clarke | Conservative Party of Canada | Warman | Peace officer | 4,992 |
47.83 |
Joan Beatty | Liberal Party of Canada | Deschambault Lake | Journalist | 3,296 |
31.58 |
Brian Morin | New Democratic Party | Buffalo Narrows | Fire protection officer | 1,830 |
17.53 |
Robin Orr | Green Party of Canada | La Ronge | Computer technician | 320 |
3.07 |
Total | 10,438 |
100.00 |
Candidate | Political Affiliation | Place of Residence | Occupation | Valid Votes Obtained | Percentage (%) of Valid Votes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bob Rae | Liberal Party of Canada | Toronto | Lawyer | 14,187 |
59.47 |
El-Farouk Khaki | New Democratic Party | Toronto | Lawyer | 3,312 |
13.88 |
Chris Tindal | Green Party of Canada | Toronto | Interactive media producer | 3,199 |
13.41 |
Donald Meredith | Conservative Party of Canada | Richmond Hill | Entrepreneur | 2,939 |
12.32 |
Liz White | Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada | Toronto | Animal and environmental protection | 123 |
0.52 |
Doug Plumb | Canadian Action Party | Toronto | Computer programmer | 97 |
0.41 |
Total | 23,587 |
100.00 |
Candidate | Political Affiliation | Place of Residence | Occupation | Valid Votes Obtained | Percentage (%) of Valid Votes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joyce Murray | Liberal Party of Canada Vancouver | Vancouver Quadra | Reforester | 10,155 |
36.05 |
Deborah Meredith | Conservative Party of Canada | Vancouver | University lecturer | 10,004 |
35.52 |
Rebecca Coad | New Democratic Party | Vancouver | University student | 4,064 |
14.43 |
Dan Grice | Green Party of Canada | Vancouver | Businessman | 3,792 |
13.46 |
John Turner | neorhino.ca | Courtenay | Actor | 111 |
0.39 |
Psamuel Frank | Canadian Action Party | Coquitlam | Musician | 40 |
0.14 |
Total | 28,166 |
99.99 |
Candidate | Political Affiliation | Place of Residence | Occupation | Valid Votes Obtained | Percentage (%) of Valid Votes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Martha Hall Findlay | Liberal Party of Canada | Toronto | Lawyer | 13,507 |
59.38 |
Maureen Harquail | Conservative Party of Canada | Toronto | Lawyer | 6,841 |
30.07 |
Lou Carcasole | Green Party of Canada | Toronto | Teacher/contractor | 1,314 |
5.77 |
Rini Ghosh | New Democratic Party | Toronto | Administrative assistant and project coordinator | 1,082 |
4.75 |
Total | 22,744 |
99.67 |
The official voting results for the March 2008 by-elections, including poll-by-poll results, are now available on the Elections Canada Web site at www.elections.ca.
Enforcement of the Canada Elections Act
The Commissioner of Canada Elections has received five complaints stemming from the March 2008 by-elections. All but two have been resolved.
Candidates' election expenses
Candidates in the March 2008 by-elections had until July 17, 2008, to file their electoral campaign returns. There were 20 confirmed candidates in the by-elections; 10 filed within the original deadline, and 10 requested and were granted filing extensions and filed within the extended deadlines.
Of the 20 confirmed candidates, 13 were eligible for election expenses reimbursements. Initial reimbursements paid to the 13 candidates totalled $172,607.45. As of December 17, 2008, final reimbursements totalling $91,002.43 had been paid to three candidates, and audit subsidy payments totalling $4,500.00 had been paid to three candidate auditors. The remaining 10 candidate returns are being reviewed in accordance with our normal procedures.