Not all the news from Nova Scotia tonight is provincial. A new name has appeared in the Elections Canada database, and it means that the race is on for the Commons seat recently vacated by Bill Casey:

• Cumberland – Colchester – Musquodoboit Valley, NS - As expected, Scott Armstrong was nominated by acclamation at a meeting this past May 30 to represent the Conservative party in any forthcoming contest here. whether a by-election or general election. Meanwhile 2008 Liberal candidate Tracy Parsons (herself the former leader of the Progressive Canadian Party) still seems to be running for the Liberal nomination as reported here earlier, the NDP is lifting its nomination freeze in the riding now that the provincial election is concluded, and of course Elizabeth May has yet to make her intentions known, and may not unless or until a by-election is called.

In other nomination news:

• Haute-Gaspésie – La Mitis – Matane – Matapédia, QC - Meanwhile in a seat that isn't vacant now but will be by the next election, the Bloc Québécois has confirmed its new candidate in the seat currently held by Bloc M.P. Jean-Yves Roy, who earlier announced he won't be running again. After winning three earlier elections comfortably, Roy only narrowly defeated Liberal Nancy Charest in 2008, winning by just under 3 votes per poll. As reported here earlier, Charest also appears likely to make another run at the seat. Running for the Bloc this time will be Jean-François Fortin, the mayor of Sainte-Flavie, who won an uncontested nomination this past Sunday June 7 in Amqui, after other prospective candidates had earlier withdrawn.
• Edmonton – Strathcona, AB - Mark down next Wednesday June 16 on your calendar of upcoming nomination meetings, when three candidates will be vying for the right to represent the Conservative party in the only non-Conservative seat in Alberta. The Hill Times reported on Monday that former PMO staffperson Ryan Hastman, neighbouring riding president Cathay Wagantall and performance sports expert Linda Slade are in the running. A fourth candidate, University of Alberta student Matthew Sztym was not mentioned by the Hill Times, so I'm not clear what his status is (can any Alberta readers out there clarify for us in the comments section?). The winner will face off against first-term NDP M.P. Linda Duncan.
  
• Yukon, YT - Yukon Greens renominated John Streicker as their candidate at a nomination meeting this past Monday, June 1, a reader writes to advise. The riding is currently represented by four-term Liberal M.P. Larry Bagnall.

UPDATE: And in late-breaking news:

• Saanich – Gulf Islands, BC - I should know better than to click publish on a post without consulting Public Eye Online for the latest in BC nomination news. We already noted Sean Holman's reporting that Liberal backroomer Kit Spence would be running for the Liberal nomination in this west coast riding once Briony Penn ruled herself out of contention. Now he's reporting that another candidate, riding association director Renée Hetherington, has also taken out nomination papers. The riding is currently represented by long-time Conservative M.P. Gary Lunn.
  

I'll be updating the database with the new entries in a second to update our nomination counts, but in the meantime, if you have nomination news to share with Guide readers, please send it along.

Labels: 41st General Election Nominations, Bloc Québécois, Conservatives, Cumberland – Colchester – Musquodoboit Valley, Greens, Liberals, Retiring Incumbents, Vacant Seats