City Councilor Laura Palestini to Run for Liberals in Montreal Byelection

City Councilor Laura Palestini to Run for Liberals in Montreal Byelection
City councillor Laura Palestini poses in this undated handout photo. (The Canadian Press/HO - Ville de Montreal)
The Canadian Press
Updated:
0:00

City councillor Laura Palestini will be the Liberal candidate in the coming byelection for the Montreal riding of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun.

The seat has been empty since the resignation of former justice minister David Lametti, who was the MP for the riding from 2015 to early this year.

The Liberal Party says Ms. Palestini, who represented the area on the local borough council and Montreal city council, advocated for “progressive priorities” such as public transit and affordable housing.

The Conservative Party says its candidate will be small business owner Louis Ialenti, while the NDP have nominated Craig Sauvé, who is also a city councillor.

Elections Canada says the byelection must be called by July 30, and the latest date it can be held is Sept. 16.

It will follow a Toronto byelection in which the Liberals lost a long-held stronghold to the Conservatives.