The 41st Canadian federal election saw more residents of Wild Rose head to the polls than in 2008.
The increase takes the riding slightly above the national average for voter turnout and returned incumbent Conservative Blake Richards to parliament with a resounding victory.
A total of 58,362 voters cast a ballot, up from the 50,671 in 2008, for a 61.5 per cent turnout this time compared to 56 per cent three years ago.
Richards said an increase in voter turnout is good to hear and increased engagement in the riding was something he noticed.
“I think a lot of it comes down to there was a real choice this time around,” he said Wednesday (May 4). “A lot of people said they were tired of elections and voted for stability.
“I really think that had a lot to do with the increase.”
Stability, he said, means a majority government and a guarantee of no election for another four years.
Richards added he thinks the hard work of all the candidates and their teams also engaged the electorate and encouraged more people to make it to the polls.
He said he will continue to work hard representing everyone in the riding in Ottawa and consulting with constituents as the MP.
“It is a real honour to be given the opportunity to serve for the next four years,” Richards said adding priority number one is economic recovery. “I want to thank the constituents and voters for their confidence… and thank all the candidates for a good campaign.”
Canmore resident and teacher Jeff Horvath took second place for the New Democrats, mirroring the success of the party nationally.
Horvath received 11.3 per cent of the vote, up from his 2008 result of 8.24 per cent vote.
“I think I did very well,” Horvath said. “From the last election (my results) increased and I’m pretty happy about it. I think people are getting to know me in the community and the riding.”
He also pointed to NDP leader Jack Layton as a success story in the election by becoming the official opposition.
Horvath, who has run three times for the NDP in Wild Rose, said he felt this election had more engagement of the public and noted the increased voter turnout.
“I think that is the sign of something good,” he said. “As the orange surge happened the last couple weeks I felt good and I was representing the party well.”
Green candidate Mike MacDonald said he was disappointed that his party’s numbers slipped compared to 2008.
The last election saw Green candidate Lisa Fox place second in Wild Rose with 12.63 per cent of the vote or 6,390 ballots.
This time, MacDonald received seven per cent of the vote or 4,081 votes cast.
On the upside, he said, the Greens did better locally than across the country.
“As we looked at what happened nationally with the Greens, we did better in this riding than others,” he said. “I think what happened was in the last week of the election it turned into a two horse race between the New Democrats and the Conservatives.”
MacDonald said the so-called orange surge saw a lot of people strategically vote for the NDP and saw Conservatives also head to the polls as a result.
He said the decrease in votes locally is not because of a lack of support, but the nature of politics.
On the bright side, he said, leader Elizabeth May won a seat in the house. “She will make lots of noise in Ottawa.”
Liberal candidate John Reilly said on election night the results were devastating, but “the sun will rise tomorrow and we will all live to fight another day”.
“We have worked to promote our vision of Canada and that vision has become a little blurry tonight,” said the retired judge. “We will have to maintain that vision of a Canada that is strong because its people are strong.”
Reilly placed a distant fourth, with 6.7 per cent of the vote, or 3,909 votes. He did get 1,000 more ballots than previous Liberal candidate Jenn Turcott in 2008.
At the beginning of the campaign, Reilly, who many considered a star candidate for the party in this riding, made controversial comments on a talk radio show while discussing mandatory minimum sentences.
The comments, which referenced a specific case of sexual assault he presided over as a judge, made national headlines.
