Chong wins south Wellington riding for eighth time

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The federal election on April 28 saw many upsets across the nation.

But in Wellington-Halton Hills North, the political landscape remains the same – incumbent Conservative Michael Chong won the seat and will return to Ottawa for his eighth term.

Chong met with supporters at Judy’s Restaurant in Brisbane as the results rolled in Monday night and there were cheers and applause as his win was confirmed.

Chong won 51.4% (34,007) of the votes cast in the riding, while Liberal candidate Sean Carscadden received 43.7% (28,951), the Green Party's Liam Stiles (1,357) and the NDP's Andrew Bascombe (1,327) each received 2% and People’s Party of Canada candidate Syl Carle garnered 0.8% (556).

(All results remain unofficial).

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“I pledge to be the best I can be and make sure your voice is heard in the House,” Chong told his supporters.

“Each of you did your part to help win this riding.”

Chong said he was “thrilled” to win a majority in Wellington-Halton Hills North.

He said the key issues he heard at the door were the threats from U.S. President Donald Trump over tariffs and sovereignty and the economy, “and I’ll take back what I heard” when parliament reconvenes, he said.

He said the most important job of any member of parliament is to represent their constituency and he’ll continue to do that.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre did not win his seat in the Carleton riding, which he has held since 2004, although he said on election night he would continue on as party leader.

Chong said the party will have to take the numbers and do some analysis and figure out what went wrong, and what went right.

He would not comment on whether Poilievre’s rhetoric during the campaign hurt the party nationally.

“There will be a time to analyze but that is not for tonight,” Chong said.

'Energizing and inspiring'

Though he didn’t win, Carscadden said he was pleased with his results, given the Chong machine seemed impenetrable.

“We got the best overall showing (for the Liberals) in 20 years in this riding,” he said in an interview Tuesday morning.

“I take some solace that we were able to rally more support.”

The writ period was a short five weeks and that made it difficult to get his name out, Carscadden noted, but 43.7% of the votes is not bad for a newcomer.

“It was so energizing and inspiring to have people believe in me, so yes, I would run again,” he said.

Syl Carle was not surprised with his last-place finish.

“It was expected,” he said. “This election was a fear election. I heard that from the electorate loud and clear at the door.”

This was Carle's third election and he said he’ll run again, adding “I don’t take no for an answer."

Green Party, NDP

Stiles and Bascombe did not immediately reply to the Advertiser's requests for comment, but the Green Party and NDP did not fare well nationally either.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh did not win his Burnaby South seat and announced he was stepping down as party leader.

The party only won seven seats nationally and now has lost official party status.

Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May won her seat in Saanich-Gulf Island but it was the only seat won by the Greens.

Her co-leader Jonathan Pedneault was not re-elected in his Montreal riding of Outremont.