By The Canadian Press
The exterior of the Manitoba Legislature is seen in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
Elections Manitoba has released the unofficial numbers from the Spruce Woods riding byelection, which show Progressive Conservative candidate Colleen Robbins has received the majority of votes.
The numbers also suggest it was a tight race for the largely rural riding, which has strongly voted PC since being formed in 2011.
The New Democrats’ Ray Berthelette came in a very close second.
With the initial count complete, Robbins had 2,805 votes, while Berthelette tallied with 2,735 — a difference of just 70 votes.
The returning officer must now verify the results.
Previously, the Tories, who are now in Opposition, have never received less than 60 per cent of the vote.
The Liberal Party of Manitoba’s candidate, Stephen Reid, placed third with 444 votes.
The seat has been vacant since March, when Grant Jackson resigned to run for the federal Conservatives in the April general election.
Robbins has been a longtime party volunteer, while Berthelette recently worked as an executive assistant to cabinet minister Glen Simard, and the Liberal’s Reid was a teacher in Brandon.
The byelection’s outcome won’t affect the NDP’s majority in the legislature, where the party has 34 of the 57 seats, compared to the Tories’ new tally of 21. There is one Liberal and one Independent.
The riding contains a part of Brandon, but most of its area consists of small towns and farmland. Out of 14,757 registered voters, 6,008 ballots were cast, or a 40.71 per cent voter turnout.
The NDP pulled off a major upset last year, winning a byelection in the Tuxedo seat in Winnipeg, which had always voted for the Progressive Conservatives and had been the seat of two former Tory premiers.
