I ran into a reader on the street last night who admonished me for not writing much in the past week. "How can you create an addiction like that, and then stop feeding it daily" he chided me. Well, the past week at the cottage I was working on some mapping for the site, and then we came back to town and I've just started a new job with all the work and upheaval that creates. So things are a little busy here, and I'm a bit behind, but let see if we can't feed my friends' jones a bit. Thanks to everyone who sent along information as well for their patience. Let's start in the east, and see how far west we can work ourselves this morning.

• Avalon, NL - Former one-term Conservative M.P. Fabian Manning has told VOCM radio in St. John's that he's "keeping his options open" and that his province "needs a seat at the table". This is reasonably significant, since Manning was appointed to Senate seat after the election, which I'm reasonably positive he'd have to give up in order to run for the Commons. Hmmm, time to dust off the Parliament of Canada Act and check that out (no time this morning, though). VOCM, for those who haven't had the fortune to visit Newfoundland, stands for "Voice of the Common Man" and is the radio station that broadcasts the ubiquitous "open line" shows that have been the mainstay of political debate in that province. Manning was defeated by first-term Liberal M.P. Scott Andrews last time around in the midst of Premier Williams' "anyone but conservative" campaign.
• Egmont, PE - In the wake of Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's weekend visit to the Island, several Liberals are lining up to try and win their party's nod for the chance to take on another first-time M.P., this time first-time Conservative M.P. Gail Shea who won by just 55 votes over first-time Liberal candidate Keith Milligan. Milligan is considering whether to run again, reports the Charlottetown Guardian, and is expected to give an up or down by early September. Also said to be interested are the son of the former M.P., Matt McGuire, previous nomination candidate Angie Cormier, former provincial party president Brenda Hackett, and two provincial Liberal MLAs, Janice Sherry and Rob Henderson. No meeting date has been set, but Ignatieff is urging riding Liberals to get a candidate in place as soon as possible. (h/t the Liberal Scarf)
• Fredericton, NB - A founding member of the newly-formed New Brunswick chapter of Equal Voice is getting set to practice what she preaches, as University of New Brunswick English prof Wendy Robbins has announced she'll be running for the Liberal nomination in this seat, currently held by first-time Conservative M.P. Keith Ashdown. Ashdown was elected following the retirement of former Liberal M.P. Andy Scott, defeating Liberal engineer David Innes by 11%. No word on when a nomination meeting might be held. (again, h/t the Liberal Scarf)
• Bas-Richelieu – Nicolet – Bécancour, QC - The dean of the House of Commons, Bloc Québécois M.P. Louis Plamondon, will celebrate his 25th anniversary of elected office on September 4th. Plamondon is the only M.P. currently in the House to have been elected in the 1984 general election (when he was elected as a Conservative M.P.) and to be consistently reelected since then (Conservative M.P. Rob Nicholson was also elected in 1984, but had a break in service). Plamondon went on to become a founding member of the Bloc Québécois, and as Dean of the Commons he chaired the Commons session that reelected Peter Milliken as Speaker after the last election, the first time a separatist M.P. has ever been in the Chair to my knowledge. A big party is planned in his riding on the long weekend, reports Le Nouvelliste. Not mentioned is whether Plamondon plans to run again, however, although he has been returned to Ottawa with between 55% and 68% of the vote since 1984.
• Berthier – Maskinongé, QC - Former provincial Liberal MNA Francine Gaudet will be running for the Liberal nomination in this north shore riding, currently held by three-term Bloc Québécois M.P. Guy André, reports the Hebdo Journal. She'll have an uphill battle to unseat him however, as Liberals fell to third in the last two outings in this seat to the benefit of Conservative candidate and businesswoman Marie-Claude Godue. No word if Godue is planning another run. (h/t the Liberal Scarf)

OK, we'll have to stop there and pick it up this evening in Montréal and points west of that. Hopefully we'll be fully caught up by the end of the day.

Labels: 41st General Election Nominations, Bloc Québécois, Conservatives, Liberals