Byelection to replace Todd Smith confirmed while Ford rules out fall vote [Video]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called a byelection to fill the seat held by his former education minister days after he resigned, also ruling out an early election in the fall.

On Wednesday, the government announced a byelection had been called in Bay of Quinte, the riding represented by Todd Smith, who stood down as education minister and a local MPP on Friday.

The ballot will be held on Sept. 19, with the Progressive Conservatives having already nominated a candidate to run in the traditionally blue riding to replace Smith.

Smith’s resignation came as a surprise on Friday morning, when the MPP said he was leaving politics entirely and immediately to pursue a job in the private sector. He had served a brief two-month stint as education minister after years as energy minister for the Ford government.

The former Bay of Quinte MPP was reportedly unhappy at being shuffled into the education …