Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has called two byelections for Sept. 6. Voters in Vaughan and Kitchener-Waterloo will be going to the polls just after Labour Day. McGuinty called the byelections on Wednesday to fill the two seats vacated by Liberal Greg Sorbara and Progressive Conservative Elizabeth Witmer. Sorbara resigned last week to devote himself to running the Liberals’ election campaign, while Witmer was given a plum appointment by McGuinty to head the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
The premier also says calling the byelections does not mean he has ruled out calling the legislature back in an emergency session this month to impose a new contract on Ontario teachers. McGuinty admits governments always have a difficult time winning byelections, but says the Liberals are the only party with a plan to secure a public sector wage freeze to eliminate the deficit.
