A number of Liberal and NDP nominations, some of them eagerly anticipated, are scheduled over the coming days, weeks and months:

• First up, the Liberal nomination meeting in Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River, SK will be taking place later today (Thursday August 14), in several locations throughout the riding over several hours. You can find links to a few news stories and a little speculation here. The two candidates are former candidate Joan Beatty and David Orchard. Beatty last faced Conservative M.P. Robert Clarke in this year's March by-elections.
• Next on Sunday August 17, NDP Leader Jack Layton will be attending the Vancouver Centre, BC NDP nomination meeting where Michael Byers is expected to be acclaimed as his party's candidate running against long-time Liberal M.P. Hedy Fry.
• Also in late August, crime victims and mental health reform advocate Michael Butler is expected to get his party's nod in Edmonton – Mill Woods – Beaumont, AB where he'll face first-time Conservative M.P. Mike Lake. [OOPSDATE: Did I forget to mention he's a New Democrat?]
• And on Saturday September 20, Layton will be attending the Edmonton East, AB NDP Nomination meeting, which is expected to acclaim Ray Martin as their candidate to run against long-time Conservative M.P. Peter Goldring.
• Liberals are finally opening the floor for nominations in Bruce – Grey – Owen Sound, ON, where one candidate has been declared for awhile, although no meeting date has been set as yet. The riding is now held by two-term Conservative M.P. Larry Miller.
• Meantime the Liberals in Ottawa West – Nepean, ON may have a contest between a former mayor and a former federal cabinet minister on their hands, but are planning to set a long date for their meeting to encourage potential "high-powered" candidates. The winner will be facing first-term Conservative M.P. John Baird.
• And several candidates are apparently already in the offing to fill the vacancy on the Liberal slate in Palliser, SK, following Garry Oledzki's withdrawal last week. No date has been set here either, though. The riding is currently held by two-term Conservative M.P. Dave Batters.
• Moving much further east, several more candidates are expected to announce their interest in the NDP nomination in retiring Halifax, NS M.P. Alexa McDonough's seat, for a rumoured October nomination meeting. Follow the Babble here.

Labels: 40th General Election Nominations, Liberals, NDP