A former MP who intended to seek the Conservative nomination for an upcoming byelection in the New Westminster-Coquitlam riding was unable to file the necessary paperwork on time because he was in Europe.

Paul Forseth, who held the seat between 1993 and 2004, wrote in a blog post (paulforseth.blogspot.com) that the application deadline was a "surprise."

He said he had booked a trip to the UK and France a year ago and was unable to complete the application forms remotely.

"The party directive to the local EDA [Electoral District Association] to proceed into [the] nomination process on these particular dates was an unfortunate turn of circumstances for me," he said. "I had every intention of running, but I also had to make travel plans a year ago. If the release for the EDA to proceed had been just two weeks later, it would have been fine for me."

Forseth said he returned from the trip on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the electoral district association told the Tri-City News on Friday that Forseth took his name off the ballot earlier this month.

With the former MP out of the running, four candidates will be vying for the federal nomination when the meeting is held at the end of the month.

Media consultant Lorraine Brett of New Westminster, Port Moody Coun. Diana Dilworth, Burnaby-New West Tory riding executive Mark Lea-Mckeown and Coquitlam financial services operator Andy Wickey are all seeking the nomination.

The New West-Coquitlam seat was vacated in April by former NDP MP Dawn Black, who won the provincial riding of New West in May.

The federal by-election must be called within 180 days after Black's resignation and, once the contest is announced by the prime minister, voters must go to the polls within 36 days (across Canada, there are a total of four by-elections that need to be called and it's likely all four will be staged at the same time).

The local Tory nomination meeting will happen on Saturday, July 25 in the Mike Butler room of the Dogwood Pavilion, located at 624 Poirier St. Party supporters in good standing with the association as of July 2 will be eligible to vote; members will be notified by phone, mail and email.

One of the four contenders will be up against NDP candidate Fin Donnelly, a Coquitlam city councillor. The local Liberal and Green parties have yet to announce their challengers.

For more information on the Conservative meeting, visit www.yourvotecounts.ca or call candidate nomination committee chairperson Leona Healy at 604-866-2862.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com

-with files from Janis Warren