WHITBY, Ont. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to appear at a rally in Whitby, Ont., this evening in support of a Liberal candidate in an provincial byelection.
It's unusual for a prime minister to wade into a provincial byelection, but Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne took a high-profile role in Trudeau's campaign in the recent federal election, which apparently paid off.
The Liberals, who held only 13 seats in the province when the federal election was called, were elected in 80 of Ontario's newly expanded total of 121 seats.
Thursday's byelection in Whitby-Oshawa was triggered after Progressive Conservative Christine Elliott resigned the seat, months after losing her party's leadership race.
The Liberals are eager to snatch the long-held Tory riding away, though the result won't change the balance of power in the provincial legislature.
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown and the NDP candidate have called Trudeau's appearance in Whitby-Oshawa a "distraction."
Liberal candidate Elizabeth Roy said she is looking forward to welcoming Trudeau and Wynne to the riding.
"To have the prime minister and premier visit in the final days of the campaign is a great validation of the work we've done," she said.
Polls have suggested the race is between Roy and Tory candidate Lorne Coe — both regional councillors.
The NDP hopes MPP Jennifer French's win in the neighbouring riding of Oshawa in the 2014 general election is a positive sign for them, but candidate Niki Lundquist has been polling significantly below the Liberals and PCs.
