James Bezan, re-elected as MP for Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman, attributes his win to an “incredible team effort” amid shifting voter priorities and a nail-biting national race.
A campaign built on boots and ballots
Bezan highlights the work of over 200 volunteers who counted ballots, scrutinized results, and covered the sprawling rural Manitoba riding with signs, door-knocking, and phone calls.
“We talked to thousands of our constituents over the last 36 days,” he says. “I’m honoured again to win the opportunity to represent this fantastic riding and the great people of Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman.”
From Trump talk to pocketbook pressures
The campaign began with voters fixated on “Donald Trump and his rhetoric,” Bezan notes, but priorities shifted toward affordability and frustration with Liberal policies. “In the last 10 days, people were saying it’s time to change,” he continues. “We have to get rid of these Liberals—we just can’t take a risk.”
Minority government déjà vu?
While celebrating his own victory, Bezan acknowledges a tight national race and notes, at the time of the interview, as polls continued to come in with results, the national election was so close that the Conservatives could have won.
“We’re talking 10 seats right now that can flip either way,” he adds. “Advanced polls could shift things substantially. Conservatives have been very good at the ground game, getting our vote out.”
Reflecting on his eight electoral wins, Bezan points to minority governments as familiar territory.
“Six of those have been minorities—only 2011 and 2015 were majorities,” he says. “We could be back at this within 18 to 36 months.”
“Fingers crossed” for a late push
Despite trailing in early counts, Bezan remained cautiously optimistic.
“In those tight seats, advanced polls may be the final push to bring us to victory,” he adds. “At the very least, as opposition, we’ll hold [the government] to account.”
The MP closed with a grin: “Who knows? By tomorrow morning, we could still be asked to form the next government.”
Well, we know the results and how that did not happen. However, it does remind us of what Branden Leslie said when he was re-elected in Portage-Lisgar... things could change sooner than they normally otherwise could, now that there is such a minority Liberal government in place.