Liberal MP says he won’t run again in battleground riding
Fourth party member not seeking re-election in GTA
The Liberal MP for a GTA riding that’s expected to see a fierce fight between the Conservatives and Liberals in the next election campaign announced Monday he’s not going to run again.
Tony Van Bynen became the member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora in 2019 after serving as Newmarket’s mayor for 12 years. He said Monday that it’s time for him to return to private life and spend more time with his family.
“Public service is more than a career, it’s a calling, and my commitment to community doesn’t end with retirement,” Van Bynen said in a written statement.
His decision not to seek re-election adds his name to a growing list of Liberal MPs from the GTA who have already said they won’t run again in the next federal election, which is currently set for the fall of 2025.
They include Carolyn Bennett (who has already stepped down),
Omar Alghabra and Helena Jaczek.
The federal Conservatives are mapping a path to victory through ridings like Newmarket-Aurora, whose population continues to grow as people priced out of Toronto seek places to settle.
The seat has been held by both Liberals and Conservatives, including Belinda Stronach, who was elected as a Conservative in 2004 before crossing the floor to join the Liberals in 2005.
In the 2021 election, Van Bynen won the seat with 43.8 per cent of the vote. Conservative candidate Harold Kim came in second place at 38.3 per cent.
Kim lost in his bid to run as the Conservative candidate in the next election. Party members instead chose Sandra Cobena, a banking professional with ties to the riding and within the party.
Current polling places the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, well ahead of the Liberals in public support. On Sunday, Poilievre held a rally in Toronto that drew thousands of supporters.