It was a big night for former city councillor Amarjeet Sohi, though the new Liberal MP will have to wait for the official results, after winning his seat in Edmonton Mill Woods by only 80 votes.

Sohi was one of four Liberal candidates to secure seats in Alberta in Monday's election, beating out Conservative incumbent Tim Uppal. Randy Boissonnault reclaimed Edmonton Centre from Conservative candidate James Cumming, while Darshan Kang and Kent Hehr both secured seats in Calgary.

Image | Amarjeet Sohi

Caption: Amarjeet Sohi addresses his supporters after winning the Edmonton-Mill Woods riding with a margin of only 80 votes. (Rick Bremness/CBC)

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"I am absolutely feeling great," Sohi said Tuesday morning.

After a long campaign, he credits the last minute red wave led by prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau to Canadians' desire for change. Canadians voted to escape from a political landscape focused on fear and division, he said, and against "doing politics based on perceived differences."

"This is about inclusion. This is about accepting our diversity. Canada should be about accepting who we are, and we're going to live up to those expectations," Sohi said in his acceptance speech Monday night.

With such a small lead over Uppal, Sohi said he recognizes he has some work to do to earn the trust of many in his riding. However, he is confident that his previous experience on city council, working on anti-racism initiatives and with interfaith communities, will help him overcome perceived differences to effectively represent his constituency.

He was not able to give a timeline for when an official recount might be completed.

"We will let the process work ... and whatever the outcome of that may be, it's up to the authorities to make that decision."

While Edmonton may have gained an MP in the new Liberal government, it would mean the loss of a city councillor.

It will be the first by-election since Brian Mason left his council seat to become an MLA in 2000. The city is eyeing a vote in mid-February if the election results hold.

"We have mixed feelings about that because he's been a great city councillor, but I know that Mr. Sohi going to Ottawa is going to be a good thing for our city," said Mayor Don Iveson.

Sohi credited the Liberals' success to the party's focus on families and commitment to infrastructure.

"When you look at what happened over a number of years from Edmonton's point of view — the economy in decline, the changes that were made into the immigration system — that resonated with people in my area, as well as the focus on the middle class and lifting children out of poverty," he said.

"Those are real issues that Edmontonians and Canadians face."

Sohi said the Liberal promise to invest $2 billion in public transportation, including funding for Edmonton's LRT system, helped win support.

When asked whether he and Trudeau had discussed the possibility of him filing a cabinet seat, Sohi only laughed, saying it was far too soon to have that discussion.