Egmont Liberal convention underway

Egmont MP Joe McGuire says he has mixed emotions as Liberals gather in West Prince today to choose his successor.

More than 1,000 Liberals are at Hernewood junior high school in Woodstock, near O'Leary, this afternoon to elect a new candidate for the riding.

McGuire will continue to represent the riding in the House of Commons until the next election is called, which could happen anytime considering the minority government in Ottawa.

"It's the biggest nominating convention the Liberal party has ever had in Egmont," said McGuire, who spent nearly two decades representing the district.

"You hate to leave but I think it's the right thing to do at the right time."

The nominating convention is now underway.

A sea of Liberal red has packed into the school's gymnasium.

McGuire is not publicly endorsing any of the three candidates.

The three candidates seeking the nomination include a political neophyte and two former heavyweights from provincial politics.

Angie Cormier is a business owner and community leader from Cap-Egmont who is running for public office for the first time.

Keith Milligan is a former member of the legislative assembly who served in the 80s and 90s. He also served a short stint as premier in 1996.

Robert Morrissey, a former colleague of Milligans, is also seeking the nomination.

Morrissey is a former Liberal cabinet minister who served under premiers Joe Ghiz and Catherine Callbeck.

McGuire said he doesn't want the riding to go unrepresented, so he'll continue to represent it until a federal election is called.

"I dont want the riding to be unrepresented. A federal election could be more than a year away."