It was a bad night for the New Democrats nationally, but not so in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
NDP incumbent Niki Ashton won re-election in the northern Manitoba riding of Churchill-Keewatinook Aski on Monday. Across the border, New Democrat Georgina Jolibois took Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River away from the Conservatives.
With 135 of 157 polls reporting, Ashton had garnered 13,266 votes (47 per cent of the total) and been declared the winner by media outlets. Liberal Rebecca Chartrand was more than 2,000 votes behind with 11,116 tallies (39 per cent). Chartrand conceded the election.
The Conservatives lost nationally and, as expected, in Churchill-Keewatinook Aski. Candidate Kyle Mirecki had 3,030 votes (11 per cent).
The Green Party's August Hastmann had 533 votes (two per cent) while Libertarian Zachary Linnick, a former Flin Flonner, had 232 votes (one per cent).
In Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, Jolibois squeaked by Liberal Lawrence Joseph by just 70 votes. With all polls reporting, Jolibois had 10,300 votes (34 per cent) to Joseph's 10,230 votes (34 per cent). It was not immediately clear whether Joseph would seek a recount.
Incumbent Rob Clarke, a Conservative, lost a seat he had held since 2008. He finished the night with 9,110 votes (30 per cent). His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for an interview or a statement.
Also in northern Saskatchewan, Warren Koch of the Green Party had 552 votes (two per cent).
Nationally, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals will form a majority government. They were elected in 181 ridings and leading in another three as of 1:34 am. They needed 170 seats for a majority.
The Reminder will have full coverage of the election, as well as commentary, in our Wednesday print edition.
