Voters in a southwestern Ontario riding, now known as Brantford–Brant South, are gearing up for their eighth federal byelection scheduled between late August and mid-April following the announcement of Conservative MP Larry Brock’s impending departure. Brock, who was elected in 2021, is leaving his position in the House of Commons to join the Crown attorney’s office in Brantford, Ont.
This marks the third Conservative MP resignation this summer, with Saskatchewan’s Cathay Wagantall and Quebec’s Richard Martel also stepping down. Martel’s riding of Chicoutimi–Le Fjord, along with North Vancouver–Capilano and Beaches–East York in Toronto, are set to hold byelections at the end of the month.
The North Vancouver–Capilano and Beaches–East York vacancies stem from the resignations of former Liberal cabinet ministers Jonathan Wilkinson and Nate Erskine-Smith. Wilkinson is set to become Canada’s ambassador to the European Union in Brussels, while Erskine-Smith pursued a political opportunity in Ontario without success.
Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay resigned earlier this summer to contest in the Quebec election on Oct. 5, leaving his previous seat, Saint-Hyacinthe–Bagot–Acton, vacant without a byelection called yet.
Byelections must be called within 11 to 180 days after a seat becomes vacant, with campaigns lasting between 36 and 50 days. The timing for a byelection vote typically falls between 47 days and seven months post a seat’s vacancy, pending the formal resignation of the MP.
Notably, Independent and former NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice is vying for Québec solidaire in the provincial election while still holding his Montreal seat. Similarly, former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault, who announced his resignation on May 27, is set to depart by Aug. 28.
Brock has confirmed his resignation date as Sept. 18, coinciding with the House of Commons’ return from summer recess on Sept. 21.