N.S. PCs suddenly change candidate in Northside-Westmount byelection

Danny Laffin is running as an independent in the upcoming provincial byelection in Northside-Westmount after the PCs replaced him at the last minute with candidate Murray Ryan. According to the party, Laffin was let go over allegedly failing to comply with the disclosure process.

Murray Ryan now PC candidate, Danny Laffin running as an independent in Sept. 3 byelection

CBC News · Posted: Aug 14, 2019 1:53 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 14, 2019

Danny Laffin is now running as an Independent candidate in the byelection for Northside-Westmount, scheduled for Sept. 3. (Danny Laffin/Facebook)

The Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party has made an eleventh-hour swap of candidates for the upcoming provincial byelection in Cape Breton's Northside-Westmount riding, removing Danny Laffin from the ballot over an alleged breach.

Leader Tim Houston said Laffin was removed as the PC candidate over a failure to comply with the party's internal disclosure process. It's unclear what Laffin allegedly failed to disclose.

"The initial vetting was completed and we've determined that the information that was provided to us in the way of candidate disclosures wasn't fully complied with," Houston said.

"This is not a situation that anyone envisioned. It's not a situation that anyone is happy about, but we're just going to move forward."

Laffin had been the Progressive Conservative candidate for the area, but was officially replaced by Murray Ryan on Wednesday, just before the deadline for candidates closed.

Laffin is still on the ballot as an independent candidate.

Laffin seeking legal counsel

He addressed the situation in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

"It is with heavy heart that I am resigning as your candidate from Northside-Westmount PC Party," said Laffin.

"More information will be released after we seek legal counsel."

His campaign website was removed and his name was taken off the PC website about an hour before his announcement.

Laffin did not return requests for comment Wednesday.

Ryan embraced opportunity

Ryan is a self-employed chartered professional accountant.

"He's a well-known guy with a good track record in business," Houston said.

"Three weeks from now, the byelection will be over.... It was a short byelection. It just got shorter for us, but we'll get behind the candidate."

PC candidate Murray Ryan (Submitted by Murray Ryan)

Ryan said he was surprised to get a call from the party at the last minute.

"I wasn't left with much time to make a decision, so sometimes in life when those opportunities come to pass, you have to jump on it," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and what will come over the next 20 days."

Campaign signs showing Danny Laffin as a candidate for the Progressive Conservatives were still up in the Sydney area when the party announced they had replaced Laffin on the ballot. Laffin still plans to run as an independent. (Danny Laffin/Facebook)

Ryan had initially been set to contest the Northside-Westmount nomination against Laffin, but he changed his mind because he was concerned about his father's health.

"He's 100 years old, so every day is a gift," said Ryan.

"Since then he got out of hospital and he seems to be improving, so when I received a phone call this morning asking me if I'd revisit my original decision... it was an opportunity that I just wanted to embrace."

Health care a hot topic

Ryan, who said his only political experience was running for a Nova Scotia Liberal nomination about nine years ago, said health care is his No. 1 priority.

"There's challenges all over the province, but I've experienced firsthand, in relation to my father, the challenges," said Ryan.

"The frontline workers are absolutely phenomenal, but they're overworked. They're maxed out, and I just think I can bring some fresh ideas to the table."

The Northside-Westmount byelection is one of three provincial byelections being held next month. The other two are for the ridings of Argyle-Barrington and Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg.

Election day for all three ridings is Sept. 3.

On Wednesday morning, Danny Laffin's PC campaign Facebook page posted new photos of volunteers making campaign signs. Just hours later, he had been replaced as the party's candidate in next month's byelection. (Danny Laffin/Facebook)

The openings at Province House came after PC MLAs Chris d'Entremont, Alfie MacLeod and Eddie Orrell resigned their seats to focus on campaigning for the upcoming federal election.

The candidates running in the Northside-Westmount byelection are: