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The Brampton Guardian
Longtime MP resigns and opens door for new election candidate
Thursday September 4 2008
ROGER BELGRAVE
The pending federal election may have already brought some political change in Brampton.
Longtime Liberal MP Colleen Beaumier has announced she will not be seeking re-election, opening the door for a new candidate in Brampton West. According to Riding Association President John Lavelle, party officials anticipate they will be receiving several bids for nomination.

At press time, Beaumier could not be reached for comment. However, Lavelle said Beaumier informed the Liberal Party of Canada last week that she would retire at the end of this term, which effectively ends when the next election campaign begins.

“I can confirm that she’s notified the party that she won’t seek re-election,” he said. “What the party will do now is it will call a nomination (meeting) in fairly short order.

There has been no meeting date set yet, but the local association is expecting some notification from the party office soon.

Beaumier’s retirement was not announced publicly.

“It wasn’t done in any formal or public way,” said Lavelle. “She spoke directly with the party one day last week.”

At the same time, the riding association was informed of Beaumier’s decision, he explained.
The 63-year-old is one the longest sitting Brampton representatives currently in the House of Commons. She was first elected in 1993 and has spent five terms representing the community.
Her departure has already started a flurry of activity in the riding as potential candidates for the party try to mount a nomination campaign before Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls an election. Reports indicate that call could come as early as Sunday.

Lavelle is predicting there will be a fairly long line of potential candidates submitting names to the party. Those names will be vetted by party brass for acceptance as riding association nominees.

“I haven’t seen a list. My understanding is based on some inquiries by other people to the association and inquiries of the party that there should be a considerable number of candidates who will come forward,” Lavelle said.

Former association president Raj Jhajj resigned from the post last Thursday so he could be eligible to seek the nomination. Lavelle, who was serving as vice-president, assumed the president’s position a week ago.

Jhajj has been involved with the party for years and has worked on Beaumier’s campaigns in the past as well as other Liberal candidates.

Well-known local Liberal and lawyer Andrew Kania may also be seeking the nomination. When contacted Thursday afternoon, Kania refused to comment, but said he was interested in vying for the position.

He has sought the Liberal Party’s nomination in the Brampton Springdale riding in the past. That bid by Kania and others in the 2004 federal election was cut short to the disappointment of many local Liberals. Former party leader Paul Martin bypassed the local nomination process and appointed Ruby Dhalla to be the local candidate.

Kania remained active with the party and in January 2007, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion appointed him special advisor on the party’s National Election Readiness Committee.
Lavelle is expecting other possible candidates will come forward in the coming days and weeks.