Political parties are anticipating an all-out battle for a Tory stronghold in the wake of the resignation of a former Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet minister.

Ed Byrne, who has held Kilbride district since 1993, announced his plans Tuesday to vacate the seat by Jan. 1. 

Ed Byrne's resignation will clear the way for a byelection in Kilbride district.
(CBC)

The Progressive Conservatives have never lost a race in Kilbride, a St. John's-area district created in 1975 that consists largely of suburbs and agricultural areas.

Byrne told reporters he intends to play a role in the byelection campaign, which is expected this winter.

"It would be best for me to … ensure there's a great candidate that replaces me for the party and to do whatever I can to ensure that person, whoever it may be, wins the seat for the government," Byrne said.

Cloud of suspicion

Byrne said he was finding it impossible to keep working as a member of the house of assembly while still under a cloud of suspicion.

A police investigation was opened after Auditor General John Noseworthy found Byrne and three other politicians had received significantly more from their tax-free constituency allowances than their allotments.

Opposition parties are preparing for a heated battle for the seat, in marked contrast to the byelection in Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi earlier this fall. 

Gerry Reid says the Liberals will pull out the stops for a campaign in Kilbride, in contrast to how the party handled a byelection in Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.
(CBC)

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael won that Nov. 1 byelection, helped in part by the Liberals' decision to sit out the campaign at the NDP's request.

Premier Danny Williams's office says a date has not yet been picked for the byelection, but it will be held before late March.

Under amendments to the House of Assembly Act made in 2004, a provincial byelection must be called within 60 days of a seat becoming vacant and held within 90 days.

Liberal Leader Gerry Reid said the party is ready for a fight.
 
"Last summer, they wanted to hold a nomination for the Liberal party at that time [for the general election] but we suggested it would be better to wait until we got closer," Reid said.

"Now that there's a byelection, we'll be ready to go."

NDP hope to pick up on momentum

Nancy Riche, president of the provincial NDP, said the party is hoping to capitalize on momentum from Michael's victory.

"People are pleased that the NDP was elected in that byelection," she said.

"While Mr. Byrne had to make a pretty serious and I'm sure a tough decision, it may actually be very positive for us."

Voters, though, have usually awarded Tory candidates large margins of victory in Kilbride. In the 1993 election, Byrne received 78 per cent of the votes cast.

The byelection will come just months before a general election. Under a provincial law calling for fixed dates for general elections, the next province-wide vote will be held Oct. 9, 2007.

Currently the governing PCs have 35 of the 48 seats in the house of assembly, while the Liberals have 11 seats and the NDP hold two.