Liberals defeat Conservative cabinet minister in Kenora

Superior Morning6:15Election Reaction - Northern Policy Institute

Before the election the Northern Policy Institute rated the federal parties on how well they address Ontario priorities. They all got a C. The president of the Northern Policy Institute Charles Cirtwill talks about the election results,

Hours after Justin Trudeau was declared the next Prime Minister, Kenora Liberal candidate Bob Nault was still waiting to find out whether he'd be part of the new government.

"That's the stressful part.  You want to be part of a new government because you want to make a difference," Nault said.

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Polls trickled in with Nault and the NDP's Howard Hampton trading the lead, each with about 35 per cent of the vote.

Conservative Greg Rickford fell behind early and never caught up. Finally, with about a 400 vote lead and two polls left to report, Nault was willing to admit he'd won. 

He was quick to thank the First Nations voters for their support.

"One of those things you have to consider when you're voting is do you want your MP to be sitting across the aisle or do you want them to be sitting inside with the governing power," said Peter Campbell, who was among those who helped Nault campaign in remote northern communities.

The victory marks the beginning of Nault's fifth term in office.

Kenora NDP candidate Howard Hampton said he "left it all on the ice" during the election campaign and has nothing to feel bad about. 

He said the NDP made a strategic error by "playing defence" when the party was in the lead.

"Just like a hockey game, you can't play defence for half the game," he said. "If the puck is always in your end and you're always playing defense, sooner or later somebody might score a goal just by accident."

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