Prime minister calls two federal byelections for Sept. 16

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that byelections will be held in two federal ridings on Sept. 16.

One race will be held in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun to fill the Quebec seat left vacant by the retirement of former Liberal cabinet minister David Lametti.

Lametti, a lawyer, served as minister of justice and attorney general. He won the Montreal riding comfortably in three straight elections since 2015.

City councillor Laura Palestini will contest the riding for the Liberals, while the NDP is also fielding a city councillor, Craig Sauvé. The Bloc Québécois has not yet announced a candidate. In the past three elections, Bloc candidates have typically placed second and the New Democrats third.

The second byelection called Sunday will take place in Elmwood—Transcona to pick a successor for former Manitoba NDP MP Daniel Blaikie, who left federal politics to work with the provincial NDP government.

Blaikie held the Winnipeg riding since 2015, barely wresting back control for the NDP that year in a race against incumbent Conservative Lawrence Toet that came down to fewer than 100 votes.

Prior to Toet's one term from 2011-15, the riding has traditionally been a New Democrat stronghold. Bill Blaikie, Daniel's father, represented the area federally from 1979 to 2004.

Leila Dance, head of a local business improvement organization, will carry the NDP banner into the race. Conservatives, who traditionally place second in the area, have nominated electrician Colin Reynolds. Liberals have tapped union leader Ian MacIntyre as their candidate.

The races will be the first test of the Liberals' electoral strength since a shocking byelection loss in Toronto–St. Paul's in June sparked internal consternation in the government.

It was the first time