Federal byelection set for May in B.C. riding of Nanaimo-Ladysmith

A byelection has been called for the federal riding of Nanaimo-Ladysmith, the Prime Minister's Office announced Sunday.

The B.C. riding was formerly held by New Democrat MP Sheila Malcolmson. She resigned in January to run in a provincial byelection in the ridingof Nanaimo, a vote she won.

The Nanaimo-Ladysmithvote, scheduled May 6, will bethe fourth federal byelectionof the year, after three were decided in February.

In the Feb. 25byelection, voters preserved the Conservatives' long string of wins inOntario's York-Simcoeelecting Scot Davidson. The Liberals, with candidateRachel Bendayan,regained Montreal's Outremont riding, held by former NDP leader Tom Mulcairbefore he resigned as an MP last August.

Current NDPLeader Jagmeet Singh earned a seat in the House of Commons with a win in Burnaby South, vacated last September by former New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart, now Vancouver's mayor.