There were some defeats, and some victories for the federal Liberals in Manitoba Monday.
Justin Trudeau’s party started the evening off with seven of the 14 seats in the province, but by the end of the night, that number dropped to just four.
It was predicted Winnipeg Centre would be a tight race between Liberal incumbent Robert-Falcon Ouelette, and NDP candidate Leah Gazan – and it was.
The riding was one of the last to be called in the province.
(Robert-Falcon Ouelette at his riding headquarters Monday night. Photo: Wilfred Moar/APTN)
At around 11 p.m. CT, Gazan made her victory speech and was unofficially crowned the winner – bringing the previously long held NDP district back to the party.
“This community has a history of leading progressive movements across the country and I’m looking forward to being that voice,” said Gazan later Monday night.
It was not the outcome Ouellette was hoping for but ended his four-year term with well wishes to each and every person who worked on his campaign.
Gazan took 41 per cent of the votes ending with approximately 2,500 more than Ouelette.
“I understand people choose a different path forward and that’s okay but in the end of the day I am very proud of what I was able to accomplish,” Ouellette told reporters after giving his concession speech.
“In failure comes growth, when you’re given the boot it’s a sad day but I really appreciate and love the people of Winnipeg Centre.”
Just southeast of the riding the Liberals were celebrating a victory.
Saint Boniface-Saint Vital Métis MP Dan Vandal held onto his seat, beating out three other Métis candidates.
“Everywhere we went people were talking about how important it was for us to keep moving forward in a positive way, how important it was to keep investing in the service that people need to get ahead,” Vandal told the crowd at his headquarters in Saint Boniface.
While many were confident Vandal would win, the Conservative candidate put up a good fight.
Réjeanne Caron, a Métis police officer, finished 4,500 votes behind Vandal.
In the north, Niki Ashton will reprise her role as the NDP MP for Churchill-Keewatinook Aski for a fourth consecutive term.
Ashton was up against two Indigenous female candidates – Judy Klassen for the Liberals and Cyara Bird for the Conservatives.
Ashton won with 49 per cent of the votes.
The Liberal loss of seats were gains for the other parties. The NDP went from two to three seats and the Conservatives went from five to seven seats.
straight talk
Sask and Alberta let’s get to reality, the country has spoken. And it’s TRUDEAU, join in let the people move ahead. Province and moe jobs, jobs, jobs. You blame Federals, what did u run on.