Two Manitoba Conservative strongholds stayed Tory blue in Monday's federal byelection.
As predicted, it was a close race in Brandon-Souris to fill the seat vacated by retired Conservative Member of Parliament Merv Tweed. Conservative Larry Maguire, a former Tory MLA who stepped down to run federally, faced Liberal Rolf Dinsdale, son of longtime Conservative MP Walter Dinsdale.
The Liberals made a strong push in the area, as federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau visited the riding three times during the campaign.
The vote went back and forth all night, but Maguire finished ahead by 391 votes.
In Provencher, Conservative Ted Falk will be a new face in Ottawa. He captured 58 per cent of the vote to defeat Liberal rival Terry Hayward. Falk claims the seat left open by former Member of Parliament and cabinet minister Vic Toews, elected in 2003.
At his Steinbach headquarters, Falk says he knocked on thousands of doors during the campaign. He said the senate scandal was on people's minds and he'd like to see the senate reformed.
With 30 per cent of the vote, Hayward said he is happy the Liberals have substantially increased their vote total by seven per cent since the 2011 general election.
