Eastern Ontario residents in two ridings will go to the polls in March to elect a new representative at the provincial legislature.
Premier Dalton McGuinty has set March 4 as the date to fill the ridings of Ottawa West-Nepean and Leeds-Grenville, which were both vacated by longtime politicians who resigned to pursue careers in different political arenas.
Former Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Jim Watson stepped down from his post as minister of municipal affairs and housing last month. He officially resigned as MPP on Monday, the same day he registered for Ottawa's mayor's race.
In Leeds-Grenville, veteran Tory MPP Bob Runciman vacated his seat last week when he was appointed one of five new Senators joining the upper house.
The byelection will be the first time Runciman hasn't been on the ballot in Leeds-Grenville since he was elected to represent the riding in 1981.
With files from The Canadian Press
