Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff introduces new Winnipeg North MP Kevin Lamoureux during a caucus meeting in Ottawa on Dec. 1, 2010.CHRIS WATTIE/Reuters
Recounts have confirmed the original federal election-night results in two close ridings, one in Northern Ontario that has gone to the Conservatives and the other in Winnipeg that will remain in Liberal hands.
In Nipissing-Temiskaming, the riding that encompasses North Bay, Liberal caucus chair Anthony Rota was officially 18 votes behind business adviser Jay Aspin when the second count was completed.
Mr. Rota is a former municipal councillor who has held the Ontario seat for seven years. The results of the recount were made public late Tuesday afternoon and, like all other defeated MPs, he now has until Thursday to clear out of his Ottawa office.
But the Liberals can take some solace in the fact that incumbent MP Kevin Lamoureux, who represents their party, was declared elected in Winnipeg North.
Mr. Lamoureux is a long-time Manitoba MLA who ran unsuccessfully for the leadership of the provincial party in 1993. He defeated the NDP candidate in Winnipeg North last November after veteran New Democrat MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis quit to make an failed run for the job of Winnipeg mayor.
The New Democrats fired everything they had at the riding in the recent election.
Mr. Lamoureux was up against Rebecca Blaikie, whose father Bill Blaikie held a seat in the federal House of Commons for the NDP from 1979 to 2007. Jack Layton, the NDP Leader, repeatedly visited Winnipeg North during the campaign and many expected Ms. Blaikie would emerge victorious.
But, when the ballots were counted on election night, Mr. Lamoureux was 45 votes ahead. After the recount, that lead was reduced to 44.
While the results are disappointing for the New Democrats, the party that is now the Official Opposition did win the first of four recounts that were demanded in ridings where the final results of the 41st federal election were close.
François Lapointe, the NDP in the Quebec district of Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup was declared the winner last Friday by Mr. Justice Gilles Blanchet of the Québec Superior Court. In the end he beat Bernard Généreux of the Conservatives by 11 votes.
A recount has also been ordered in Etobicoke Centre in Toronto where Liberal incumbent Borys Wrzesnewskyj was narrowly defeated by Conservative Ted Opitz after the votes were counted for the first time. It is unknown when the finally tally in Etobicoke Centre will be announced.
While the results are disappointing for the New Democrats, the party that is now the Official Opposition did win the first of four recounts that were demanded in ridings where the final results of the 41st federal election were close.
François Lapointe, the NDP in the Quebec district of Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup was declared the winner last Friday by Mr. Justice Gilles Blanchet of the Québec Superior Court. In the end he beat Bernard Généreux of the Conservatives by 11 votes.
Recounts have also been ordered in Nipissing-Timiskaming in Northern Ontario and Etobicoke Centre in Toronto. In both those cases, Liberal incumbents were narrowly defeated by Conservative challengers after the votes were counted for the first time.
The results in Nipissing-Timiskaming may be released later on Tuesday. It is unknown when the finally tally in Etobicoke Centre will be announced.