Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing (AMK) NDP MP Carol Hughes won a decidedly comfortable federal election vote, earning a fourth term in the House of Commons.
An unofficial election tally shows Hughes with 16,740 votes, Conservative Dave Williamson taking 10,557 votes, Liberal Heather Wilson with 9,760 votes and Green Party’s Max Chapman with 2,145 votes. People’s Party candidate Dave Delisle picked up 883 votes and Rhino Party candidate Le Marquis De Marmalade received 124 votes.
Hughes arrived at George’s Restaurant for her victory party just before midnight after poll results were slow coming in. She was joined by her husband Keith along with about 30 supporters and staff for the celebration.
Hughes acknowledged that the location was, “on the traditional territory of the Robinson Huron treaty and more specifically the traditional territory of the Serpent River First Nation.”
She thanked her staff and campaign workers for their work during the 60-day campaign and for those who voted for her. She was also thankful for the support she has received from Indigenous voters in her riding.
She acknowledged the cross-country vote that saw the Liberal Party win a minority government.
“We’re going into a minority government and I think we can prove to them this is why we need electoral reform,” she said.
Hughes told ElliotLakeToday that NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has already indicated his party is willing to work in a minority government.
“We certainly would be interested in working in a coalition if the Liberal government is willing to do that,” Hughes said. “The NDP are always willing to work with individuals and with other parties to put forward the proper changes that need to be happening or programs that need to be put in place to improve the lives of individuals and fellow Canadians. We see so many people.”
She talked about an Elliot Lake voter, Edmond Porier, of the Warsaw apartments who wanted to vote despite suffering from terminal cancer. The man, assisted by his wife, went to the poll in his apartment building despite suffering severe pain.
According to Hughes, the riding has received the second most money in federal funding during the past term, although no firm figure was available.
She said she will continue to work on stopping the closure of post offices and banks around the riding. During her campaign she has promised to work on improving internet access across AMK to persuade businesses in establishing themselves in the riding.
“We need to rethink how we do business in the north,” Hughes said.
Hughes said she was not surprised about the Conservative’s second place showing. In the past two elections, Liberal Wilson has come in second and in 2015 trailed Hughes by only 2,500 votes. She said second place has always gone between the Conservatives and Liberals in her last four election wins.
She is expecting to be back in Ottawa in about three weeks but will first focus on closing out her campaign.
