UPDATE, Oct. 21, 9:30 p.m.
Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz has conceded defeat to Conservative Mel Arnold.
Derkaz told her Liberal supporters in Vernon that she would be contacting Arnold to congratulate him.
“I wanted to say this whole effort has been all about our community and about our team that has come together,” said Derkaz. “We have had tremendous support and tremendous effort from volunteers from all over this riding who carried this vision and wanted to see a Liberal MP sitting at this table. But that is not to be.
“Fair and square, the Conservatives have once again taken this riding and I acknowledge that and I am going to congratulate Mr. Arnold the second i can get him on the phone.”
Despite an overall feeling of disappointment at Derkaz’ election night gathering, there is hope the Liberal lead will continue and the party will again form government.
UPDATE, Oct. 21, 9 p.m.
The atmosphere at the election night gathering for North Okanagan-Shuswap People’s Party of Canada candidate Kyle Delfing may be less than boisterous, but the political newcomer is optimistic about his party and its future.
“The supporters that we had in the beginning compared to now are, I’m going to say, tenfold. Maybe a hundredfold,” commented Delfing.
He added that his party is in its infancy and voters will need time to get to know them.
As of 9 p.m., election results for the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding placed Delfing in last place with 1,056 votes. Conservative candidate Mel Arnold was well ahead of competing candidates with 17,270 votes, amounting to a 47 per cent lead.
People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier projected to lose his seat https://t.co/2q2R0SPK7c
— Vernon Morning Star (@VernonNews) October 22, 2019
UPDATE, Oct. 21, 8:50 p.m.
With a lead of more than 5,000 votes, the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding is expected to go to Conservative Party candidate Mel Arnold.
With approximately 40 per cent of North Okanagan Shuswap polls having reported in, Canadian Press has given the riding to Arnold for what will be his second term as MP.
As of 8:44 p.m., Arnold had 10,174 votes, followed by Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz with 4,857 votes. NDP candidate Harwinder Sandhu and Green candidate Marc Reinarz were following with 3,601 votes and 2,425 votes.
“I’m not even looking at the polls, I just heard that (Arnold projected win),” commented Sandhu. “I think its very early to say. Lets wait until all the polls come in.”
UPDATE
While Conservative candidate Mel Arnold maintains a comfortable lead in the North Okanagan-Shuswap, the federal Liberals are being projected to win a minority government.
According to Elections Canada, with results reported from more than 50 per cent of ridings, the Liberals are leading with 158 elected, followed by the Conservatives with 119.
“The Liberals have a strong contingent and I’m sure we could make it work to have a Liberal-led government,” North Okanagan-Shuswap candidate Cindy Derkaz on a possible minority Liberal government.
Meanwhile, Arnold is leading the riding with 46.7 per cent of the vote and 60 of 286 polls reporting.
The benefit of a Liberal minority government for Green candidate Marc Reinarz is that the Conservatives won’t be in power.
“I think that is a vote against youth and against the future of the planet,” said Reinarz, adding if his party can’t win, he’s glad the Liberals have at least some intention of battling climate change.
ORIGINAL STORY
North Okanagan-Shuswap candidates are anxiously watching as riding results begin to roll out.
Conservative candidate Mel Arnold is currently leading in the riding, with ten of 286 polls reporting, at 46.3 per cent of the vote. He declined commenting until party leader Andrew Scheer gives his speech.
Decorated for a party, the balloons are up, streamers and party lights on at Mel Arnold’s Conservative campaign office off 32nd Avenue tonight pic.twitter.com/ZFwBtOAhba
— Vernon Morning Star (@VernonNews) October 22, 2019
Green candidate Marc Reinarz and Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz are trailing with 11.4 per cent and 25.3 per cent respectively.
Some cheers from North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservatives as the first poll results come in showing Mel Arnold with 79 out of 172 votes, plus a Liberal Minority is called
— Vernon Morning Star (@VernonNews) October 22, 2019
“Everyone here, including family, had volunteered at some point,” said Derkaz of the dozen-plus supporters gathered at the Italian Kitchen for the election. Derkaz says she’s looking forward to watching the results, and so far the national results look “encouraging.”
Stay tuned for live updates on the 2019 federal election in the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding! First we hear from Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz’ campaign team in Salmon Arm. #CanadaElection2019 #CanadaVotes pic.twitter.com/PtqWnDMqBR
— Salmon Arm Observer (@SalmonArm) October 22, 2019
NDP candidate Harwinder Sandhu has 15 per cent of the vote, while People’s Party candidate Kyle Delfing has two per cent.
“I think that the greatest win for tonight would be steering the conversation in the direction that many Canadians want,” said Delfing. “I’m not sure how many seats we would consider a success, but that would be the success right there.”
Small early crowd at North Okanagan-Shuswap NDP candidate Harwinder Sandhu campaign office in Vernon gathered around TV/laptops. Sandhu expected at 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/QT68Is1m6z
— Vernon Morning Star (@VernonNews) October 22, 2019
PPC supporters have filled up a few tables here at Kelly O’Bryan’s in Vernon as they watch the results come in alongside their Shuswap-North Okanagan candidate, Kyle Delfing @vernonmorningstar #VernonBC #elxn43 pic.twitter.com/mmZPdsvXkr
— Brendan Shykora (@brendanshykora) October 22, 2019
