Sud-Ouest councillor Craig Sauve to be NDP candidate in riding left vacant by David Lametti
City councillor Craig Sauvé will run for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in Montreal's LaSalle-Émard-Verdun riding in the next general election.
He will be elected by acclamation at a nomination meeting scheduled for Sunday afternoon, as no other candidacies were received before the deadline, the political party confirmed to The Canadian Press.
In a video to be shown to activists, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says the 43-year-old politician, who has been a councillor in the Sud-Ouest borough since 2013, represents "a golden opportunity" for their party.
"Craig is already a really well-known councillor in the county and can present himself as a real option for the working classes, for working people, and we can win," he says. "Together, we can build a better country. Together, we can build a better society."
In an interview on Friday evening, Sauvé said he "loves" his current job but also realizes that "more structural" changes require the support of higher levels of government.
Sauvé said he sees "enthusiasm" for the NDP when he goes door-to-door and dissatisfaction with Justin Trudeau's Liberals, so much so that he believes his fellow citizens, whom he describes as "progressives," may well cause a surprise and "turn orange this time."
But that's no easy task. Liberal David Lametti has won three consecutive elections since 2015, when the riding was created. In the last election, in 2021, Lametti was re-elected with 42.9 per cent of the vote. The Bloc Québécois candidate was a distant second (22.1 per cent) and the NDP candidate came third (19.4 per cent).
Sauvé felt that all hopes were justified, given his track record as a councillor who "delivered the goods" and the fact that the previous NDP candidate had run "a very small campaign" with almost no public presence.
"In spite of that, there was 20 per cent. So that's the base, base, base. We're going to run a big campaign, we're going to pull out all the stops," he said.
Sauvé does not intend to resign from his position but plans to take a sabbatical during the election period "like the other councillors before me" and donate his salary to local charities at that time.
In 2021, he withdrew from the Mayor Valérie Plante's Projet Montréal caucus and has been sitting as an independent councillor since he became embroiled in allegations of sexual assault just days before the municipal elections. He has always denied the allegations.
"As far as I'm concerned, the case is closed," reiterated Sauvé in an interview. He noted that a police investigation had taken place and that no charges had been laid. Nor has the victim filed a lawsuit.
The riding of LaSalle-Émard-Verdun was left vacant by the resignation of David Lametti on Jan. 31, a few months after the former justice minister was excluded from the cabinet during last summer's reshuffle.
The government has a maximum of six months after the resignation of an MP to call a by-election.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 27, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Israel orders new evacuations in Gaza's last refuge of Rafah as it expands military offensive
Israel ordered new evacuations in Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands more people to leave as it prepared to expand its military operation deeper into what is considered Gaza’s last refuge.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.