Hamilton area Liberals are expected to get the okay from their federal party officials to start holding nomination meetings beginning next week.

Nithy Ananth, the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek federal Liberal riding association chief executive officer, and Ontario campaign co-chair, said the Liberal Party of Canada is expected to give the riding association’s preferred candidates by the weekend.

He said the Liberal candidate for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek will be known by the weekend, and a nomination meeting will be held within a week to acclaim the candidate. He said there will be no contested nomination.

Mr. Ananth, who was also chair of the search committee for the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek federal Liberal association, refused to reveal who will challenge incumbent NDP MP Wayne Marston. There were a number of names on Mr. Ananth’s list, including former Hamilton mayor Larry Di Ianni, the 2008 candidate, Ivan Luksic, who lost out to Mr. Di Ianni in the 2008 nomination meeting, and current Stoney Creek councillor Maria Pearson.

She has stated she is not interested in the position.

The Hamilton Mountain Liberals have also been searching for what some have said is a “high profile” candidate to take on NDP incumbent Chris Charlton. Offers have been extended to former Hamilton Mountain Liberal MPP Marie Bountrogianni, and former Lakeport Brewing CEO Teresa Cascioli, but were turned down.

Hamilton Centre Liberals were also left empty-handed when Ward 2 councillor Bob Bratina decided not to seek the nomination to challenge incumbent NDP MP David Christopherson.

Hamilton Centre federal Liberal association vice-president and chair of the search committee, Don Drury, said he has been in discussions with a number of possible “serious” candidates. He expects a candidate will be selected and a nomination meeting will take place by the end of the month.

Mr. Ananth said the nominations could coincide with a possible announcement of another federal election. Federal politicians will be returning to Parliament Sept. 14 with the expectation that the Liberals will vote against the ruling Conservatives in a no-confidence vote, sparking the fourth election in five years.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff announced he will not support the Conservatives because of their mis-management of the economy. The NDP leader Jack Layton and the Bloc have stated their parties will not prop up Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government.

 An election could be held, depending upon when the Conservatives lose a no-confidence vote, in October, or the early part of November.