It must be that time of year, because new candidates are stepping up and others are stepping aside ... enough to keep me writing all week.

Stepping aside is:

• Biologist Pierre Béland, previously set to run for the Liberals in Rimouski-Neigette – Témiscouata – Les Basques, QC is stepping down as candidate in order to resume his scientific career. The riding association does not currently have a replacement on the horizon, its vice president told Le Soleil. Béland's decision follows a similar decision by his nominated Conservative opponent, lawyer Daniel Langlais. The riding is currently represented by Independent (and former Bloc Québécois) M.P. Louise Thibault, who has also signalled that she will be running again.

Stepping up is:

• In St. Paul's, ON, the NDP has chosen Nancy Patchell to run against four-term Liberal M.P. Carolyn Bennett. That's all I know for now. [UPDATE: ] She is an IT professional and youth justice activist.
• Langara College Political Science prof and Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives research associate, Peter Prontzos, will be acclaimed tonight as his party's candidate in South Surrey – White Rock – Cloverdale, BC, facing two-term Conservative M.P. Russ Hiebert.

The Prime Minister was also stepping it up in Saint-Lambert at the Fête Nationale festivities yesterday with his two prospective by-election candidates, a clear signal the by-election call is coming soon.

Meantime, Elections Canada released the Official Voting Results (including the poll-by-poll results) for the March 17 by-elections yesterday. They contain a small number of changes to the numbers of electors and the number of polling stations, as well as the candidates' occupations and residences. I have updated the database with that data: see the ridings linked to here.

Labels: 40th General Election Nominations, Conservatives, Fall 2008 By-elections, Liberals, March 17 2008 By-elections, NDP