As Canadians prepare to vote on June 28 to determine who should represent them in parliament, residents of the Parkdale-High Park riding of Toronto will be deciding whether to reelect a Latvian-Canadian. Sarmīte “Sam” Bulte is seeking reelection on the Liberal Party ticket.

Elected in 1997 and reelected in 2000, Bulte faces two other contenders in her riding: Jurij Klufas of the Conservative Party of Canada and Peggy Nash of the New Democratic Party. Klufas is a Ukrainian-Canadian who produces a syndicated television show for Ukrainians in North America. Nash has been endorsed by Toronto Mayor David Miller, which some observers say might help her upset the incumbent.

As a member of parliament, Bulte has fostered relations between Canada and the Baltic states. She led trade and investment missions to the Baltic states in 1998 and 2000, according to her Web site, and also chairs the Canadian parliament’s Baltic Friendship Group.

Bulte also remains active in the Latvian community, including serving with the Latvian National Federation in Canada.

Bulte’s riding is described by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. as having an immigrant population of 42 percent and the largest number of Polish speakers in Ontario.