Well-known local candidates shake up otherwise humdrum byelection in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
CBC
For voters, spring and summer byelections are all too easy to ignore.
On May 2, electors in the sprawling and mainly rural Ontario riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex will head to the polls.
The vote comes at a time when there are many other things to occupy voters, everything from planning summer vacations to watching the Leafs in the NHL playoffs.
CBC News spent some time travelling through the riding, speaking with candidates and voters.
And while one voter not intending to vote called this a "bye election," here's a list factors shaping what could be a more-interesting-than-usual spring race.
On the surface, the riding has all the hallmarks of a PC safe seat. The byelection became necessary when MPP Monte McNaughton quit in September to take a job with Woodbine Entertainment.
McNaughton had held the riding since 2011. His family has strong ties to the region and he served in Doug Ford's cabinet.
Steve Pinsonneault, a Chatham-Kent city councillor first elected in 2006, is running for the Progressive Conservatives.
Challenging him and making the jump to provincial politics is Cathy Burghardt-Jesson, another seasoned municipal politician who's currently the mayor of Lucan-Biddulph and deputy warden of the regional municipality of Middlesex County.
The NDP candidate is Kathryn Shailer, a retired educator who lives in Alvinston.
Brian Ropp is the mayor of North Middlesex and knows the riding well.
"Burghardt-Jesson coming in has made this a more interesting race," said Ropp, who's worked with her at the municipal level. "It's been Progressive Conservative for a long while because Monte McNaughton has represented us so well and he was very popular, but this time I think people are also looking at the person running, not just the party."
Cameron Anderson is a professor of political science at Western University.
He said he'd be surprised to see the PCs lose, but also said byelections have a level of uncertainty due to low voter turnout and other factors.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.