Liberals pick academic, ex-journalist for Outremont byelection

New federal Liberal star candidate Jocelyn Coulon used his first political appearance to call for a complete withdrawal of Canadian troopsfrom Afghanistan.

Coulon,running for the Grits in an upcoming byelection in Outremont, said Canada should end its involvement in Afghanistan in 2009 and let other allied troopstake over.

That's exactly what Canada did in Bosnia and a similar strategy in Afghanistan would in no way jeopardise political stability in Pakistan, Coulon said.

The Université de Montréal professor and former journalist met with reporters Friday in the influential Montreal riding, along with Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.

Coulon said it is the right moment for him to make the leap into politics.

"Ihave been an analyst and an observer of international affairs for 25 years, andI thought it was time to offer reflections and analysis for a political party that has a good chanceof winning the next election and govern Canada," he said.

Coulon also promised to endorse plans to expand the Université de Montréal into nearby CN triage yards, and said he's ready to work with new immigrants, who make up a significant portion of the federal riding.

Coulon, 50, is a former journalist at Montreal newspaper Le Devoir, and frequently writes opinion pieces and comments on international affairs. He's lived in Outremont for 15 years.

A former director of the Pearson Centre's Montreal campus, Coulon is currently director of the Centre for International Study and Research at the Université de Montréal.

He'll run against NDP candidate and former Quebec environment minister Thomas Mulcair.

The Outremont riding has been vacant since Jean Lapierre stepped down earlier this year.

The federal Liberals are hoping to hold on to the riding — alongtime Gritstronghold—and dispell the growing perception the party is struggling in la belle province.

TheConservatives have not yet named a candidate in the riding. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has until July 28 to call a byelection date in Outremont.

In the last federal election, the Bloc Québécois came second in the riding, followed by the NDP. Jean-Paul Gilson will run for the Bloc this time.

A second Quebec byelection, in the Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot riding southeast of Montreal, has to be called by August 25, afterBloc MP Yvan Loubier resigned earlier this year.

Two other federal byelections in Toronto are expected to be called in the next six months.