By-election to be called in Osgoode to replace George Darouze

Another election is coming: A city by-election will be called in Osgoode to replace Coun. George Darouze who was elected as the new PC MPP for Carleton. But it won't happen until at least March 26, when the provincial election should be official. 

• “Between now and the 26th of March, we anticipate the seat will be vacant, the result will be counted, and we can declare officially the (byelection) process is underway,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, according to the Ottawa Citizen.

Sutcliffe was among those in support of a by-election being called because there is still about a year and a half left in this council term. Another option would have been for a new councillor to be appointed as was done in Kanata when Jenna Sudds stepped down. But Sutcliffe said that maneuver should only be done with six months or less left in a mandate. 

• The city believes an election would occur in June, between 75-105 days after it's officially called. 

Will Ottawa be represented in cabinet? Darouze is Ottawa’s only PC-elected MPP after the party lost its longtime seat in Nepean. With a background in agriculture, it’s widely speculated that Darouze could get a seat in Doug Ford’s new cabinet. The Premier has stated he doesn’t plan to make it any smaller and Ottawa has been without representation since former Kanata-Carleton MPP Merrilee Fullerton resigned.