Voters in western Manitoba sent incumbent Conservative MP Larry Maguire back to Ottawa.
Maguire won the riding by more than 5000 votes, but the Liberals made major gains in the traditional Tory riding.
Larry Maguire was welcomed to his campaign headquarters with cheers from Conservative supporters in Brandon.
But the cheers were tempered with results from the bigger picture for the Conservatives across Canada.
“It’s a mixed bag,” said Maguire. “Very happy that we were able to win because of the support I’ve had here in Brandon-Souris but disappointed in the results, of course, nationally.”
Maguire has served in opposition provincially in Manitoba, a role that could come in handy when he returns to Ottawa.
“I’m going to continue working with people like I did when I was an MLA and I think it’s important I had experience of being on the government side for 22 months,” said Maguire. “That has been invaluable and it will be a lesson that I continue to work with.”
At the Liberal campaign gathering in Brandon, an upbeat mood as well despite the loss in the Brandon-Souris riding.
Local candidate Jodi Wyman is looking at the positives.
In the last federal election, the party was a non-factor in Brandon-Souris, but the Liberals made major gains in the riding in this election.
“It was close so we obviously appealed to a lot of people,” said Wyman. “A lot of Brandon-Souris folks liked our message, came out and voted so we’re really happy about that.”
“Larry ran a really good campaign, he’s got experience, and he’s a hard-worker so I send my congratulations to him.”
Maguire said Conservative support in and around Brandon is still strong.
He promises to work hard for western Manitoba, even if he may have to work that much harder to get things done while in opposition.
