NDP declares victory in federal Winnipeg byelection, Conservatives concede

By Laura Osman, Maura Forrest, Steve Lambert and Michel Saba, The Canadian Press on September 16, 2024.

A voter looks at the ballot list as they head to advance polls in Lasalle, Que., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. People in two federal ridings are choosing their next member of Parliament today, and political parties are closely watching the results. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

The New Democrats have declared a federal byelection victory in their Winnipeg stronghold riding of Elmwood – Transcona.

The NDP candidate Leila Dance told supporters in a tearful speech that even though the final results weren’t in, she expected she would see them in Ottawa.

With several polls still to be counted, Conservative candidate Colin Reynolds conceded defeat and told his volunteers that they should be proud of what the Conservatives accomplished in the campaign.

Political watchers had a keen eye on the results to see if the Tories could sway traditionally NDP voters on issues related to labour and affordability.

Meanwhile in the byelection race in the Montreal riding of LaSalle – Émard – Verdun the NDP, Liberals and Bloc Québécois remained locked in an extremely tight three-way race as the results trickled in slowly.

The Liberal stronghold riding had a record 91 names on the ballot, and the results aren’t expected until the early hours of the morning.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.