ELECTED
18,876*
CATHY MCLEOD
SECOND
STEVE POWRIE
FOURTH
THIRD
16,428
BILL SUNDHU
15,337
KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK TUESDAY
2,031
MATT GREENWOOD
* WITH 240/275 POLLS REPORTING
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OCTOBER 20, 2015 | Volume 28 No. 126
THE RED DAWN LIBERALS SHOCK NATION WITH MAJORITY WIN; VOTERS REMAIN TRUE BLUE IN KAMLOOPS
ANDREA KLASSEN AND CAM FORTEMS
STAFF REPORTERS
editor@kamloopsthisweek.com
DAVE EAGLES/KTW Conservative Cathy McLeod and former Socred and B.C. Liberal MLA Claude Richmond watch Stephen Harper’s concession speech. For the first time, McLeod is an opposition MP.
In yesterday’s election, Kamloops proved itself to not be a bellwether riding, returning Conservative Cathy McLeod to office while the Liberals stunned a nation by sweeping to a majority. As of KTW’s press deadline last night, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were elected or leading in 190 of 338 seats — 19 more than is needed to form a majority government. In Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo, the much-hyped strategic voting initiative failed to succeed, as McLeod held onto her seat. Liberal Steve Powrie was fending off New Democrat Bill Sundhu for second place as of press deadline. Green Matt Greenwood — who told KTW he didn’t vote for himself, but voted for “change” — was fourth. The Liberals locally captured more than 30 per cent of the popular vote, compared to five per cent the party garnered in the 2011 election. The Conservatives and NDP both saw popular vote percentages fall from 2011 totals. McLeod said “change” was
FURNACES
the theme of the night. “Canadians voted and, Canadians voted and, obviously, they voted for obviously, they voted for change — and we will change — and we will have to accept that,” McLeod said. have to accept that. She said her party — CATHY MCLEOD will need to reflect on what voters wanted that Conservatives did not the early moments of Stephen offer. Harper’s concession speech, McLeod noted Powrie she fumbled with the televihelped her victory with stronsion remote, dropping it more ger Liberal support, adding than once. that, as an opposition member, Powrie watched the Liberal she does not think the amount wave cross the country. of money brought to the riding “It’s amazing,” he said. will decease. “Two months ago, we were “The money thing, there’s talking about being in real certain opportunities you have trouble. Now, we’re declaring a as a government member in majority. It’s clear which model terms of opportunities for for change people wanted.” interaction,” she said. Based on volunteers, a “But, the reason I was proud record door-knocking effort of that was because I made and NDP signs on voter’s lawns sure that every organization — twice as many as 2011 — in our community knew about Sundhu’s campaign ran on the opportunities that were high expectations. available — and I helped them But, the Big Red Machine make sure their applications that delivered a convincwere successful — so that ing Liberal majority crushed piece is not going to change.” hopes the first New Democrat But, the Liberal victory would be elected in Kamloopsclearly rattled the incumbent Thompson-Cariboo since MP. Nelson Riis 15 years ago. McLeod appeared shaken by the evening’s results. Attempting to applaud in See SUNDHU, A5
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