As the count in Canada’s 44th general election continues, the race in Parry Sound-Muskoka has already been declared.
Incumbent candidate Scott Aitchison jumped to an early lead, and several sources have now declared him the winner for this riding. Nationally, a minority Liberal government has been projected.
“I’m fairly disappointed that the Liberals look like they may win a minority government again here but I’m obviously pleased and honoured to have the faith of people in Parry Sound-Muskoka put in me again and also I guess a little humble because there’s work to be done. There are real problems and I’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Aitchison.
Asked where he’d start, he said housing has got to be the number one issue. He criticized the Liberals for making lofty promises but not delivering much. “The biggest problem I see is that they continue to make the promises but they don’t deliver in rural Canada.”
Aitchison said he’s hoping the Liberals will start listening a little more now that they didn’t get the result they thought they deserved. “Maybe they’ll start listening a little more and partnering with municipalities in the rural communities… organizations, there are so many groups trying to solve this problem and we just haven’t had a federal partner and so that’s a big one for me.”
(Updated 11:00 p.m.) As of publication time, with 130 of 234 polls reporting in Parry Sound-Muskoka, here’s how the votes shook out:
Scott Aitchison, Conservative: 10,931 (47 per cent)
Jovanie Nicoyishakiye, Liberal: 5,302 (21 per cent)
Heather Hay, NDP: 4,245 (18 per cent)
James Tole, People’s Party of Canada: 1,820 (eight per cent)
Marc Mantha, Green: 1,261 (five per cent)
Daniel Predie Jr., independent: 89 (0.0 per cent)
James Fawcett, National Citizens Alliance of Canada: 58 (0.0 per cent)
In the 2019 election, Aitchison won by a margin of just over 16 per cent:
Scott Aitchison, Conservative: 22,845 (41.79 per cent)
Trisha Cowie, Liberal: 16,615 (30.40 per cent)
Gord Miller, Green: 8,409 (15.38 per cent)
Tom Young, NDP: 6,417 (11.74 per cent)
Daniel Predie Jr, independent: 377 (0.69 per cent)
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Sybil Jackson says
Scott Aitchison is not the incumbent. Once parliament is dissolved there are no incumbents. We have a prime minister and cabinet but no incumbent MPs.