Several Districts In Canada Hold Federal By-election Monday

November 9, 2009 5:11 p.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - Four voting districts - called ridings - in three Canadian provinces will hold a federal by-election on Monday. The result may affect the balance of power in Canada's House of Commons.

The by-elections will be held in the British Columbia district of New Westminster-Coquitlam, the Quebec riding of Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska-Riviere-du-Loup and the Montreal rising of Hochelaga, and the Nova Scotia voting district of Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodobolt Valley.

Political observers believe the Liberal Party will lose in the four by-elections because of the weak political leadership of current party leader Michael Ignatieff. The two Quebec ridings will likely be won by Bloc Quebecois candidates Nancy Gagnon and Daniel Paille. The BC district will likely go to Tory candidate Scott Armstrong, while the Nova Scotia riding will likely be won by New Democratic Party bet Fin Donnelly.

The Nova Scotia by-election will replace the seat vacated by NDP Dawn Black, who resigned in April to seek a seat in the province. Similarly, the previous occupants of Quebec seats in the House of Commons - Bloc Quebecois' Paul Crete in Quebec and Real Meand in Montreal - decided to indulge in provincial and municipal politics instead. The Nova Scotia MP, Bill Casey used to be a Conservative until he was kicked out by the party for voting against the federal 2007 budget, causing him to leave his post in April and instead serve as MPP in Nova Scotia as an independent.

The best likely finish by Liberal candidates in the four by-elections are at least third place, according to political observers.