Wednesday October 21, 2015 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Riding remains Conservative
Federal election 2015: liberals tally second place locally, but win a stunning national majority. derkaz says they will be proven wrong as Trudeau takes the reins of power. “I always thought Justin was ready, that’s north Okanagan-Shuswap has retained why I threw my life into chaos. He’s an Tory blue while liberal red has coloured the amazing leader,” she said. rest of the country. Gingras, a university professor, admits newcomer Mel Arnold handily captured she was disappointed by the election results. the riding as conservative candidate Mon“They’re not what I hoped for but I reday, winning 27,490 votes or 39.3 per cent. spect their choice,” she said of voters. That was followed by liberal cindy derkaz “It’s been a very positive campaign and I at 20,951 or 30 per cent, Jacqui Gingras, met so many great people.” with the ndP, at 17,903 or 25.6 per cent, Gingras wouldn’t speculate on why the and Green chris George at 3,609 or 5.2 per ndP didn’t win locally. cent. “That’s something we will have to dwell “This is terrific,” said Arnold, a Salmon on. I respect the decision of community Arm businessman who takes over from re- members and this is only the start for us.” tiring colin Mayes. She isn’t sure why the party went from “It’s been a hard-fought batofficial opposition status natle, I want to congratulate all tionally to third place. I always thought the candidates. And no matter “like any campaign, there Justin was ready, how they voted, I’m here to are ebbs and flows. People that’s why I threw my were motivated to have Harper represent this riding.” With the conservatives in life into chaos. He’s out,” she said. opposition nationally, Arnold an amazing leader. George anticipated a fourthwill be in the back benches. place finish for the Greens in “It will make us work a little north Okanagan-Shuswap. bit harder,” he said, noting that “I would have preferred a he will lobby the new liberal minority government nationgovernment for funding for loally because it’s good for canaCindy Derkaz cal projects. dians. It (liberals) is going to LiberaL “And I will be available to be a change but whether it’s the candidate the public as soon as we have change we’re looking for, that our doors open to the office.” remains to be seen.” nationally, the liberals won 184 seats George believes Arnold’s new term as compared to 99 for the conservatives, 44 MP could be challenging. for the ndP, 10 seats for the Bloc Quebe“He will be a backbencher and that cois and one Green. doesn’t contribute much to the conversaderkaz is pleased with her second-place tion.” finish in north Okanagan-Shuswap. Tensions were high in conservative Mel “I would have liked to have won but it Arnold’s campaign office in Vernon Monwas amazing,” said the retired lawyer. day evening as a sea of red swept canada. While some opinion polls had the ndP “It disappoints me of course, I would’ve taking north Okanagan-Shuswap, derkaz liked to have seen a stronger showing from believes many residents saw the liberals my counterparts in the east,” said new MP as the best route to challenge the conserva- Arnold. tives. Retiring MP colin Mayes felt a few tugs “People had a huge attitude for change on his heartstrings as he watched the results from the Harper government,” she said. roll in. In terms of the liberal victory nationally, “I’ve seen a number of my colleagues derkaz said, “It’s a tremendously clear mes- that I worked with that didn’t get re-elected sage that we want change as a country and and I’m sad for them,” said Mayes, as his we picked the liberals to put that change government collapsed. “I feel we did a good into effect.” job as a government and obviously people While other parties questioned Justin wanted a change.” Trudeau’s ability to be prime minister, Mayes was a little taken aback to see the
By Richard Rolke, Roger Knox, Jennifer Smith BlAcK PReSS
This week A Salmon Arm couple is preparing for the extremely rare arrival of identical triplets. See A3. Cyclists of all ages take to Klahani Park for many laps of a unique cycling event. See A17.
JennifeR SmiTh/BlAcK PReSS
Thumbs up: Conservative Mel Arnold shows his delight at his Vernon campaign office Monday evening as he is declared winner in the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding. orange crushed. “I think the biggest surprise is the collapse of the ndP support; they were front runners and then all of a sudden people realized. “I hope this means the death of socialism
in this country.” In north Okanagan-Shuswap, 69,953 of 96,243 registered electors cast ballots, or 72.68 per cent (that does not include electors who registered on election day).
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A17-A20 Arts & Events ... A21-A23 Time Out................... A24 Vol. 108, No. 42, 48 pages