Thanks to Google Alerts ... and even better, Pundits' Guide "reader alerts" ... we bring you the following nomination news roundup:

• Kitchener Centre, ON - Former Liberal M.P. Karen Redman is doing a bit of work for Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff's office and party headquarters, but tells the Hill Times that she intends to run in the forthcoming election and try to win her seat back. Redman lost the seat by 339 votes (1.6 votes per poll) with a declining turnout in 2008 to first-time Conservative M.P. Stephen Woodworth, in the 10th closest race of the last election.
• Brant, ON - Ignatieff was in Brantford earlier this week accompanied by former two-term Liberal M.P. Lloyd St. Amand, who also confirmed to the Brantford Expositor that he intends to run for the Liberal nomination once again in his old riding. St. Amand lost the seat in 2008 to first-time Conservative M.P. Phil McColeman by less than 10 percentage points, also in a situation of declining turnout. Thanks to a reader for passing along this clipping.
  
• Edmonton – Strathcona, AB - Another former M.P. is contemplating a return to Ottawa, the reader also advises, this time from the government side. Four-term Conservative M.P. Rahim Jaffer tells the Edmonton Journal that he has notified the party of his intention to run again. However as a defeated incumbent, Jaffer is not entitled to the same nomination protection as incumbents, and it's clear he will face some stiff competition for the only open Conservative seat in Alberta. Jaffer was defeated by the NDP's Linda Duncan on her second try for federal office in 2008, by just 221 votes (2.1 votes per poll) in yet another case of declining turnout, in the 13th closest race of the last election. [UPDATE: More from daveberta.ca.]
  
• Brampton – Springdale, ON - The reader also writes to say that the Conservative riding association has sent out a notice that as of 5:00 p.m. this past Friday, 2008 Conservative candidate Parm Gill was reconfirmed as their candidate for the forthcoming election. Gill came within 773 votes (3.1 votes per poll) with a declining turnout of defeating three-term Liberal M.P. Ruby Dhalla in the 17th closest race of the last election. This would make Mr. Gill the first confirmed (non-incumbent) Conservative nomination I have heard of, and if true, the second overall in the country after Stan Grizzle for the Greens in Northumberland – Quinte West, ON.
• Ottawa – Orléans, ON - East end Ottawa city councillor Rainer Bloess confirmed to CBC Radio that he will be a candidate for the Liberal nomination in this riding, now held by two-term Conservative M.P. Royal Galipeau.
• Vegreville – Wainwright, AB - Six-term Conservative M.P. Leon Benoit has written to the Meridian Booster to clarify some details about the membership ballot regarding nomination meetings for incumbents, and urges Conservative members not to return their ballots unless they would like to have a nomination meeting. He asks whether party members believe he is better off fighting a nomination campaign or helping constituents with their problems during the economic downturn and being in Ottawa to give his input into government policy, as he "can't do both" and his vote is needed in the Commons.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has now decided to renew his predecessor's commitment to nominating one-third women candidates, contrary to earlier reports, although according to National Campaign Committee member and former Deputy PM and Edmonton Centre, AB MP, Anne McLellan, he is hoping to bring about that result with fewer appointments than last time around.

For the Conservatives' part, Friday April 17 was the deadline for party members to notify headquarters of missing ballots, and Thursday April 30 is the deadline for ballots to be returned. By all available evidence, the three ridings to watch for any possible upsets are:

• Calgary West, AB - where long-time Conservative M.P. Rob Anders is being challenged by Donna Kennedy-Glans, whose supporters recently won the majority of seats on the riding's Executive Board,
  
• Edmonton East, AB - where recent riding Vice-President Matt Altheim is running a campaign to force a contested nomination against long-time Conservative M.P. Peter Goldring, and
  
• Vegreville – Wainwright, AB - as mentioned above, where long-time Conservative M.P. Leon Benoit (who has been challenged for his nomination in the past and kept it), is again facing local calls for a contested nomination from some long-time rivals.

Another trend that bears watching is the "woulda-coulda-shoulda" phenomenon, of defeated MPs who are trying to regain their seats. In addition to the names listed above, we have already seen Liberal Eleni Bakopanos in Ahuntsic, QC, Liberal David Pratt in Ottawa West – Nepean, ON and Liberal Roger Valley in Kenora, ON. One candidate who apparently won't be fitting that category, however, is former Hamilton East M.P. Sheila Copps, reports Jane Taber in the weekend Globe and Mail.

If you hear of nomination news in your neck of the woods, or niche of the political spectrum, write in to let us know. All contributions are received in confidence and gratefully acknowledged. Send a clipping or link if you have it.

Labels: 41st General Election Nominations, Conservatives, Liberals