Dubourg wins Liberal nomination to replace Coderre in Bourassa

Emmanuel Dubourg, seen in this CP file photo from January 2010, travelled to Miami to speak with local leaders about the influx of mostly Haitian asylum seekers who have crossed the border into Canada in recent weeks.

MONTREAL -- A former member of the Quebec legislature has won the Liberal nomination in Denis Coderre's old Montreal riding.

Emmanuel Dubourg, who quit provincial politics in August to seek the nomination, will run in an upcoming federal byelection in Bourassa.

Dubourg, a 54-year-old chartered accountant, beat out one other candidate at the nomination meeting on Sunday and was quickly congratulated by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau via Twitter.

Bourassa became vacant after Coderre decided to run for mayor of Montreal. The diverse north-end riding has been held by Coderre for the past 16 years.

Dubourg is one of several high-profile candidates vying for the seat.

Stephane Moraille, a lawyer and singer in the pop group Bran Van 3000, is trying to win the NDP nomination while former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque is running for the Green party.

The NDP didn't wait long to slam Dubourg, sending out a release shortly after he won the nomination accusing him of using his severance from provincial politics to fund his campaign.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has yet to set a date for the byelection.