Conservative MP Blake Richards says Canadians have made it clear they want change, and he urged supporters at his post-election celebration to stay ready to continue the battle.
“Our increase in seats and popular vote shows that there’ll be another opportunity to finish the job we’ve started and to move forward with creating that change,” said Richards.
“I told people, don’t give up. This battle isn’t over. We know we’re the hope this country needs for the future, and we’re going to keep fighting to finish the job and deliver the change Canadians are asking for.”
The Liberals are poised to form a minority government with 168 seats and 43.5 per cent of the popular vote. The Conservatives won 144 seats, the Bloc Québécois 23, and the NDP was virtually wiped out, taking just seven.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost in the Carleton riding to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh finished third in Burnaby Central behind Liberal Wade Chang.
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Richards won his sixth consecutive election with 71.3 per cent of the popular vote. With 99.52 per cent of ballots counted, he received 49,641 votes — more than 33,000 ahead of his closest rival, Liberal Sean Secord.
It’s a return to more typical support for Richards, who dipped to 57 per cent in 2021 in Banff–Airdrie. Nine candidates ran in that race, several representing right-leaning splinter groups.
"No matter what the numbers are, it’s an honour," says Richards, "and I’ve always taken that responsibility seriously. It’s going to become even more important as we move forward in the next little bit here, so I’ll continue to work hard and make sure I honour the tremendous responsibility that people have placed in me."
Secord doubled the Liberal vote share in the riding since the last election, earning 16,459 votes — nearly 24 per cent of the popular vote compared to 12.43 per cent in 2021.
The NDP was left wandering in the wilderness, with Sarah Zagoda winning a mere 3.6 per cent of the vote (2,533), down from 16.2 per cent in 2021.
Libertarian candidate David Sabine received 615 votes, while Christopher Bell of the Christian Heritage Party garnered 373. Combined, they accounted for just 1.4 per cent of the vote.
According to Elections Canada, voter turnout was 73.92 per cent, not including electors who registered on election day.
Conservative William Stevenson won the neighbouring Yellowhead riding with 69.3 per cent of the vote. Liberal Michael Fark was second with 24.9 per cent. New Democrat Avni Soma received four per cent, while Vicky Bayford of the People's Party of Canada and Christian Heritage Party candidate Dale Heath garnered a combined 1,182 votes, or 1.8 per cent of the vote.