Conservative Earl Dreeshen maintained a firm grasp on the Red Deer riding, capturing over 75 per cent of votes in Monday’s federal election.
With 215 out of 266 polls counted, unofficial election results showed Dreeshen with 30,325 or 75.4 per cent of votes.
NDP candidate Stuart Somerville came in second with 6,293 or 15.1 per cent of votes. Green Party candidate Mason Sisson had 2,159 or 5.2 per cent. Liberal Andrew Lineker received 1,715 votes or 4.1 per cent.
At that point in the count, voter turnout was about 52 per cent. In the 2008 election, voter turnout was 49.9 per cent.
In 2008, Dreeshen won with 73.2 per cent of votes and Somerville came in second with 11.1 per cent. The Green Party got 9.3 per cent and Liberals received 6.3.
Dreeshen, 57, said he hoped question period in the House of Commons will take on a different tone with the new Conservative majority government and the crushing defeat of the Bloc Quebecois and Liberals.
“I think the significant thing is what happened to the Bloc. If they get down below 12 seats, that means they’re no longer an official party,” Dreeshen said at his campaign headquarters where about 75 supporters gathered on Monday.
Canadians have been waiting for a majority government instead of a minority and the “political bickering that goes back and forth,” said Dreeshen, a grain farmer from the Pine Lake area who won his second election.
“We’ve had minority governments now for so long, and it’s been very difficult to get legislation through. This is what Canadians have been talking about.”
NDP candidate Somerville, 25, of Endiang, said he fears what will happen with a majority Conservative government.
“I’ll use my health care while I’ve still got it. We’re going to see changes in Canada and they might not be positive,” said the NDP candidate.
“Personally I think minority governments are good for Canada. We have much more democracy through them.”
Seeing the NDP party soaring to Opposition status “is pretty cool,” said the high school teacher.
The political landscape has also changed dramatically with the destruction of the Bloc, he said.
“They’re just not a force in Canadian politics all of a sudden.”
“Nothing is ever going to be the same again.”
Sisson, 21, of Red Deer, said he was disappointed that support for the Green party fell in Red Deer, but was thrilled Green Party Leader Elizabeth May won a seat in Saanich-Gulf Islands to be the “voice of reason.”
“I can’t wait to see her in Parliament,” said Sisson, a first-time candidate who was inspired to run after watching May in the televised 2008 leaders debate.
With the party landing its first seat, he predicted the Greens have a great future.
“We’re going to skyrocket from here. We’re going to the moon from here,” said the college student and production manager at Drummond Brewing Co. Ltd.
Lineker, 32, of Edmonton, said he didn’t expect the Liberal support to fall so low.
As a parachute candidate running in his first federal election, the RV dealership manager said he was at a little bit of a disadvantage.
“I came in so late in the game. I didn’t know entirely the issues that touched people in Red Deer riding.”
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com