Falk wins Provencher in closest race since 2000

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This article was published 18/10/2015 (3109 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The words were not prewritten this time around as a comfortable Ted Falk took the microphone Monday night to thank his supporters as he prepares for a return to Ottawa.

The same man who was sheltered from debates two years ago, and came with a rehearsed statement to his first victory party, grew into his role as a Member of Parliament in the succeeding time and he was rewarded by voters Monday in his sophomore effort. In a country desperate for a new government, Falk won nearly as much support as he earned in the 2013 by-election.

Falk garnered 55.8 percent of the vote in what is recognized as a Tory stronghold, a drop from the 58 percent he secured in the by-election.

In Terry Hayward’s third bid at unseating the Conservatives, the Liberal candidate continued to bolster his party’s fortunes, rising five percentage points to 34.4 percent.

The margin between first and second place in Provencher was the lowest it has been since 2000 when Falk’s predecessor, Vic Toews, won his first election.

Early poll returns throughout the first hour of the results rolling in had Hayward within 10 percent of first place.

Provencher’s results on Monday were rounded out by Les Lilley of the NDP who amassed 5.9 percent of the vote and 3.9 percent for Green candidate Jeff Wheeldon.

Voter turnout at 69.8 percent was the highest it has been in Provencher since 2000.

Falk conceded there is work to do now that his party is not in charge, before he turned his attention to his race.

“It’s a very good win, it’s a convincing win. We’re happy about that,” he told about a hundred supporters at his campaign office in Steinbach.

“I want to start off by thanking God for giving me another opportunity to serve him in Parliament but also to serve the constituents of Provencher.”

Falk singled out various volunteers, including his campaign manager Mike Cancade whose suggestion of carrying election signs at each door volunteers knocked on was “hokey” Falk thought initially.

Falk’s opinion would change.

“People would see us coming up the driveway and we wouldn’t even have to ask, they’ll just say, ‘Put it down, put it down,’ or get out of there,” he added to laughs.

Falk said he was disappointed Stephen Harper did not receive another mandate for a “strong stable Conservative majority government” as voters overwhelmingly chose Liberal.

“We will certainly have our work cut out for us in Provencher to make sure that what’s important to us here are family values, our faith, the whole idea of hard work, our work ethic, and the importance of having a strong economy.

“We have to make sure that all those things get communicated to Ottawa. That’s my job, and I commit again to you here today I will work very hard on your behalf.”

Unofficial final results from Elections Canada:

Ted Falk (Conservative): 25,168 votes, 55.8%
Terry Hayward (Liberal): 15,507 votes, 34.4%
Les Lilley (NDP): 2,643 votes, 5.9%
Jeff Wheeldon (Green): 1,781 votes, 3.9%

179 of 179 polls reporting.

Total votes: 45,099
Voter turnout: 69.8%

Updated: Tuesday, 1:56 a.m.