Ottawa-Vanier byelection set for April 3: PMO

The Ottawa-Vanier byelection will be held April 3, according to a release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office Sunday.

The seat has been vacant since Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, 61, died in August of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Bélanger had held the longstanding Liberal seat for more than 20 years before his death months after being diagnosed with ALS.

Mona Fortier has been named the Liberal nominee, while Adrian Papara was recently chosen as the Conservative candidate.

Emilie Taman, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, was acclaimed as the NDP candidate, and Nira Dookeran is running for the Green Party.

Ottawa-Vanier is considered one of the safest Liberal ridings in the country. Voters in the Ottawa-Vanier have voted Liberal for riding’s entire 83-year history. Bélanger won about 57 per cent of the vote in 2015.

The byelection is the first of five that will happen this year.