Liberal Bas Balkissoon resigns as MPP for Scarborough-Rouge River

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Tue, 2016-03-22 14:12

Debater

By The Canadian Press — Mar 22 2016

TORONTO — Liberal backbencher Bas Balkissoon is resigning his Scarborough-Rouge River seat in the Ontario legislature effective immediately.

Premier Kathleen Wynne's office announced Balkissoon's decision, but gave no reason for the resignation.

Wynne's office says it will have no further comment other than to thank him for his public service.

Balkissoon was first elected to the legislature in 2005 and served as parliamentary assistant to several ministers, but was never promoted to the Liberal cabinet.

The 63-year-old was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and served as a Toronto city councillor before entering provincial politics.

Wynne has six months to call a byelection to replace Balkissoon.

http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/03/22/liberal-bas-balkissoon-resig...

Tue, 2016-03-22 14:54

Debater

Andrea Horwath's statement:

“On behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats, I want to thank Bas Balkissoon for nearly thirty years of public service. He spent over a decade representing Scarborough as a Member of Provincial Parliament, and seventeen years as a Scarborough and Toronto City Councillor. As Deputy Speaker and Chair of several committees, Bas believed in the democratic process and worked hard in his various roles here in the legislature. We wish Bas Balkissoon all the best.”

http://www.ontariondp.ca/andrea_horwath_on_the_resignation_of_bas_balkis...

Tue, 2016-03-22 15:20

ctrl190

I wonder if Rathika Sitsabaiesan would run? The riding has the same boundaries as her previous federal seat.

Could be quite the race. I read that the the PCs have their highest membership in this riding.

Tue, 2016-03-22 16:30

terrytowel

ctrl190 wrote:

I wonder if Rathika Sitsabaiesan would run? The riding has the same boundaries as her previous federal seat.

Could be quite the race. I read that the the PCs have their highest membership in this riding.

Yeah I thought that too. In terms of membership City Councillor Raymond Cho ran in 2014, maybe he was responsible for the spike.