Three Chances To Show McGinty His Future

And how bleak it is going to become........

3 votes possible as MPPs quit in T.O. area

By ANTONELLA ARTUSO

People in three Toronto-area provincial ridings could be asked to vote twice over the next year.

Two Liberal MPPs have called it quits and a Conservative MPP is poised to follow suit.

Finance Minister Greg Sorbara said it will be up to Premier Dalton McGuinty to decide whether he will call a byelection or wait until the general election in October 2007 to fill the vacancies.

"I can't imagine a circumstance where there wouldn't be byelections," Sorbara said.

Liberal MPP Tony Wong announced yesterday that he is resigning.

The Markham MPP is planning to run for regional council after one term at the provincial level.

"This is a personal and family decision to return to local politics," Wong said in a statement released yesterday.

Liberal cabinet minister Joe Cordiano, who represented the riding of York South-Weston, has already vacated his position.

PC Leader John Tory suggested Liberals are "rushing for the exits."

But Tory also confirmed speculation that Conservative MPP Cam Jackson will leave soon to run for mayor of Burlington.

Sorbara said it's not always possible for politicians to wait out their terms before leaving office.

Any byelection would likely be called after Christmas, he said.