A nomination battle - the first between federal Liberals in north Scarborough in a quarter-century - will be staged tonight (Thursday, May 8) to select a byelection candidate in Scarborough-Agincourt.
Jim Karygiannis, who held the seat since 1988, announced on April 1 he had resigned to run for councillor in Toronto’s Ward 39, which is half of the riding.
With a byelection expected before October, prospective Liberal candidates have been drumming up support.
One is Arnold Chan, who has worked for provincial Liberal politicians including Dalton McGuinty, Gerry Phillips and Michael Chan.
The day he stepped down as MP, Karygiannis said he didn’t know who should replace him as the party’s standard bearer. "Until someone gets nominated, I’m not going to get involved," he said.
Karygiannis has since endorsed Nikolaos (Nikos) Mantas, who worked as his constituency assistant and "right hand" in the riding.
In a letter to local Liberals, Karygiannis praised Mantas as a diligent worker and "the only candidate that lives in our riding," saying "I will be nominating him" at a meeting which starts at 6:30 p.m. in a McNicoll Avenue convention centre.
"It’s a free country. I guess as an individual, I’m entitled to my opinion," the former MP said on Wednesday, adding he "stepped away" from the internal campaigning in the riding and "didn’t go out signing people" up to vote at the meeting.
"Arnold was not a member of this riding until he decided to run."
In an interview, Chan said Karygiannis, as the former sitting member, is within his rights to take any position he wishes.
Though living in Willowdale, Chan said he spent nearly 20 years in the riding, and his parents and most of his extended family remain in Agincourt.
"I still consider myself at heart a Scarborough boy."
Chan added he will endorse Mantas if Mantas should win, and will work hard to keep the riding Liberal. "I take nothing for granted in byelections."
Some Liberal hopefuls for the nomination have already dropped out.
One, Muraly Srinarayanathas, invited supporters to open his campaign office Sunday, May 4, on Kennedy Road, then sent them a message hours later saying he was withdrawing from the race.
Karygiannis estimated more than 1,500 people were signed up to vote and described tonight’s contest as "anybody’s game."
He said he’s still a Liberal but confirmed he hasn’t been happy with some of the party’s recent actions.
"It’s not the party that I joined 25 years ago."
Local Conservatives nominated Trevor Ellis as their candidate on May 3. Federal New Democrats in the riding have not yet set a nomination date.
A general election for Canada is scheduled to take place in October of 2015.
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