Off to the races in Milton

And wild Budget Day speculation

ABOVE THE FOLD

AND THEY’RE OFF — We called it! — It’s official: The Tories have picked their contender for the upcoming byelection in Milton: ZEE HAMID.

The seat was put into play when PARM GILL, who was also Premier DOUG FORD’s Red Tape Reduction Minister, stepped down to run for federal Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE. Early rumours suggested the PCs were hoping for a high-profile contender in ex-MP LISA RAITT, who poured cold water on the notion.

Enter Hamid, a former regional councillor who ran for mayor of Milton and is currently the VP of engineering at Sensei Labs. Hamid, a father of six, is no stranger to the riding, but some Tories previously scoffed at his candidacy, pointing out that his mayoral bid was endorsed by the Liberal MP, ADAM VAN KOEVERDEN.

“No way that Hamid is a PC,” one party operative told me. “I’m just shocked that the Liberal MP’s buddy is running for the PCs.”

Still, Hamid is pumping up Tory policies such as building Highway 413 and fighting the federal carbon levy. …