The anticipated edge-of-your-seat-byelection for who was going to claim their chair around the table in the Manitoba Legislature to represent Spruce Woods didn't disappoint. Both Progressive Conservative candidate (and now newly elected MLA) Colleen Robbins and NDP candidate, Ray Berthelette, both hovered close to that 3,000 mark, but Robbins took the win with just 70 votes more at the finish line.
Colleen Robbins (PC) received 2,805 votes. Ray Berthelette (NDP) was not far behind with 2,735 votes, and Liberal candidate Stephen Reid came in with 444 votes.
But it was a neck-and-neck battle for the two strongest parties in Manitoba, and the candidates and constituents were watching the numbers closely on the Elections Manitoba website as the tally got down to the wire, with the NDP and PC's taking turns pulling ahead and then dropping back.
However, the PC's were able to hang onto the Spruce Woods Riding, a region that has been a strong PC stronghold for years represented by previous MLA Grant Jackson (2023-2025), and before Jackson, Cliff Cullen from 2011-2023.
For Ray Berthelette and the NDP's they showed the PC's this area is no longer an easy win for the Tories. In fact, it might just have set the stage for significant change two years from now in the provincial election.
"You know, we started so far behind," shares Berthelette. "We're 3,000 votes behind and to me a good campaign would have brought us to halfway back - 1500 - and coming so close... it's just foundational for us because we've already had a meeting this morning (Wednesday) with the key people in Spruce Woods. And we're setting up our next meeting in person and then we're talking about the future of the constituency and what our next steps are."
"So, you know what, as much as nobody likes to lose, losing like this to me is just like winning it! It's it was phenomenal!" he adds.
Close race made it 'fun'
It was certainly a down-to-the-wire race, and Berthelette agrees. "And that's what makes it fun! I've been doing this for a long time, and I love the campaigning and election piece because I've done a lot of it - not as a candidate but as a worker in the background and to me it just brings out the best in the people!"
Berthelette worked closely with MLA for Brandon East, Glen Simard, during that provincial election just two short years ago. Four months prior to this byelection he was president of the Spruce Woods Constituency Association for the NDP party of Manitoba. He says now he's stepping back into his role as president, and will continue to be a leader in this riding in that role.
"Yes, I'm going back to my position as president and I'm going to lead our group and we're going to decide what we're going to do and how we're going to approach it," he explains. "But ... it's an opportunity to in less than two years to have another kick at the cat to turn this into an orange seat."
Message to those who voted for him
To the 2,735 residents who voted for him, this being his first provincial campaign where he was in the spotlight, Berthelette shares his gratitude.
"Thank you for lending me your vote. It was tremendous! And, you know, we are not just going to disappear. I've got plans in my mind to continue to knock on doors and meet people .... because we probably only met, I would guess 1/3 to 1/2 of the people who voted. So, we need to meet more people, and you know all we needed is another 30 people to vote our way and we would have won."
In reviewing the numbers, 40.71 % of the residents of Spruce Woods cast their ballot, leaving 8,749 ballots blank. One could attribute the 59% shortfall to harvest being in full swing and it's the last week of summer holidays, but the numbers don't deter Berthelette. He was pleased with the number of residents who came out to support their candidate, but he knows there is still more work to do.
"And that's exactly what I've been saying ... is knocking on doors and trying to meet as many as I could in different ways, you know, and saying that, you know, give us a chance, come out to vote," he shares. "And for a by-election, I believe the numbers are pretty high. A regular ... election every four years, the numbers are about 20 or 25% higher."
"So, there's a lot of work for us to do, but we have a great team, and I think we can do it. Our local team is a great team, never mind when you mix in all our supporters out of Winnipeg and rurally that came out for this campaign," adds Berthelette.