2017 Calgary Heritage federal by-election

2017 Calgary Heritage federal by-election

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Riding of Calgary Heritage
Registered	81,270
Turnout	33.46% ( 21.57%)
First party Second party   LPC Candidate Bob Benzen Scott Forsyth Party Conservative Liberal Popular vote 19,383 5,889 Percentage 71.47% 21.71% Swing 7.70pp 4.26pp
MP before election Stephen Harper Conservative Elected MP Bob Benzen Conservative

A by-election was held in the federal riding of Calgary Heritage in Alberta, Canada on 3 April 2017 following the resignation of Conservative MP and former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper. The safe seat was held by the Conservative candidate Bob Benzen on an increased majority.

The by-election was scheduled to coincide with four others across the country, and was one of two to be held in the city of Calgary; Calgary Midnapore.

Background

Constituency

Calgary Heritage covers the southwestern corner of Calgary.The electoral district was created for the 2015 federal election and has had Harper as its only MP; however, it is largely composed of the former riding of Calgary Southwest which was held by conservative parties throughout its existence.

Campaign

The riding of Calgary Heritage became vacant when former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper resigned his seat on August 26, 2016, to return to private life, including accepting directorships on corporate boards and establishing a consultancy firm. ^[1]

The by-election was announced on February 22, 2017. The Speaker's warrant regarding the vacancy was received on August 29, 2016. The last day a by-election could have been announced was February 25, 2017, with an election held at least 36 days after being announced. ^[2]

Candidates

Bob Benzen, a small business owner and member of the Calgary Heritage Conservative Association ^[3] defeated Rick Billington, a lawyer and the former president of the Calgary Heritage Conservative Association, and city prosecutor Paul Frank for the Conservative nomination, which was decided on October 23. ^[4] Former Calgary Centre MP Joan Crockatt, party insider Alan Hallman, former Medicine Hat MP Monte Solberg, and Dan Williams, a former staffer to Calgary Midnapore MP Jason Kenney, all declined to run for the nomination despite speculation to the contrary. ^[1] Ric McIver, leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and MLA for Calgary-Hays, stated that he would not run. ^[1]

Rumoured candidates for the Liberal nomination included physician Brendan Miles, the 2015 candidate in this riding, Chima Nkemdirim, the chief of staff to Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, and former Conservative MP Lee Richardson. ^[1] On February 8, 2017, the Liberal nomination was won by physician Scott Forsyth, ^[5] defeating Steven Turner and Kanwar Gill. ^{[6] [7]}

Khalis Ahmed won the uncontested NDP nomination. ^[8]

Taryn Knorren defeated Brennan Wauters for the Green Party of Canada nomination. ^[9]

The Libertarian candidate was Darcy Gerow. ^[7]

Businesswoman and former Dragons' Den star Arlene Dickinson was considered a potential candidate until she declined interest on January 22. Dickinson stated she had supported parts of both Conservative and Liberal platforms in the past, but considers herself non-partisan. ^[10]

Results

v t e Canadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017: Calgary Heritage Resignation of Stephen Harper
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Bob Benzen	19,383	71.47	+7.71
	Liberal	Scott Forsyth	5,889	21.72	−4.25
	New Democratic	Khalis Ahmed	785	2.89	−4.39
	Green	Taryn Knorren	484	1.78	−0.35
	Christian Heritage	Jeff Willerton	385	1.42
	Libertarian	Darcy Gerow	114	0.42	−0.00
	National Advancement	Stephen J. Garvey	76	0.28
Total valid votes/expense limit			27,116	99.71	–
Total rejected ballots			78	0.29	−0.10
Turnout			27,194	33.46	−39.16
Eligible voters			81,270
	Conservative hold		Swing		+5.98
Source: Elections Canada [11]

2015 results

v t e 2015 Canadian federal election : Calgary Heritage
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Stephen Harper	37,263	63.77	–10.61	$105,821.13
	Liberal	Brendan Miles	15,172	25.97	+18.51	$46,125.76
	New Democratic	Matt Masters	4,255	7.28	–4.84	$38,181.16
	Green	Kelly Christie	1,246	2.13	–3.36	$7,044.83
	Libertarian	Steven Paolasini	246	0.42	–	$170.00
	Independent	Larry R. Heather	114	0.20	–	$16.50
	Independent	Korry Zepik	73	0.12	–	$1,098.48
	Independent	Nicolas Duchastel de Montrouge	61	0.10	–	$277.12
Total valid votes/expense limit			58,430	99.61		$215,236.37
Total rejected ballots			228	0.39	–
Turnout			58,658	73.63	–
Eligible voters			80,767
	Conservative hold		Swing		–14.56
Source: Elections Canada [12] [13]

References

1. Levitz, Stephanie (August 26, 2016). "Stephen Harper gives up House of Commons seat". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
2. "Vacant Seats in the House of Commons Since the 2015 General Election". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
3. "Conservatives in Calgary-Heritage choose candidate to replace Stephen Harper". Global Calgary. The Canadian Press. October 23, 2016. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
4. Cournoyer, Dave (September 18, 2016). "Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner by-election set for October 24, 2016". Daveberta.ca. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
5. "Liberals nominate Scott Forsyth in fight for Stephen Harper's old seat". CBC News. February 9, 2017. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
6. Wood, James (January 31, 2017). "Lee Richardson bows out of Liberal nomination race in Calgary Heritage". Calgary Herald . Archived from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
7. Cournoyer, Dave (February 5, 2017). "Updates: Calgary-Heritage and Calgary-Midnapore by-elections". Daveberta.ca. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
8. Rumbolt, Ryan (January 15, 2017). "Khalis Ahmed named NDP candidate in Calgary Heritage byelection". Calgary Herald . Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
9. "Nomination updates: Calgary-Heritage and Calgary-Midnapore by-elections | daveberta.ca – Alberta Politics". Daveberta.ca. January 24, 2017. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
10. Davidson, Terry (January 21, 2017). "Ex-Dragons' Den star Arlene Dickinson addresses political aspirations". Toronto Sun . Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
11. "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
12. "forty-second general election 2015 — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. February 29, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
13. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine

See also

• 2023 Calgary Heritage federal by-election