Michael Bryant has quit McGuinty's cabinet to accept a job with the City of Toronto. Having been demoted after the last election from his position of Attorney-General there was clearly no love lost between Bryant and the Premier and it appears that Bryant, who was widely considered to be a possible successor to McGuinty, concluded that Dalton isn't going anywhere soon and decided that 10 years in the legislature was enough.
This sudden by-election must make John Tory go d'oh as he might have had a chance in St. Paul's - a riding once held by Isabel Bassett. The area had also been represented by Tory Larry Grossman until 1987. Indeed, John Tory is probably the only Tory who'd have a shot in St. Paul's these days. With him off the scene it'll almost certainly stay Liberal.
Who will be Bryant's successor. My guess is that the interminable headline hunter and self-promotor Josh Matlow, currently St. Paul's school trustee, will run for the nomination and will almost certainly get it unless McGuinty is thinking of trying to bolster his cabinet by using the relatively safe seat as an entry for a star candidate.