It was a bitter sweet victory for the now three-time Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA, Norm Macdonald, who once again won his seat with more than 6,000 votes, but also saw the BC NDP stay in opposition provincially.
Madonald was watching the results of the 2013 provincial election at his home office in Golden, surrounded by supporters and well wishers.
“I am very proud of the campaign we ran locally. We based our campaign on the grassroots,” he said.
Macdonald thanked all of the people who came out to help with his campaign, and said the victory could not have happened without them.
He added that he was disappointed that the message heard locally was not accepted in other areas of the province. The BC Liberals once again won a majority government with the BC NDP coming in second.
“I think what it means for this area, again as an opposition member, is that I will have to fight as effectively as I can for the interests of the area.”
BC Liberal candidate Doug Clovechok finished second to Macdonald.
Clovechok said he was disappointed not to win but he was happy with the campaign.
“I am absolutely thrilled with the results provincially. I knew right from the start that Christy Clark would form government again,” Clovechok said. “I congratulated Mr. Macdonald. We are disappointed with the outcome (locally) but I am also proud of the volunteers we had. Mr. Macdonald said he would out-volunteer us and that did not happen.”
Conservative candidate Earl Olsen had a strong showing that saw him receive more than 1,000 votes.
“Obviously, it did not goes as well as I would have hoped it would go for us, but at the same time I think overall for a start up, we did well,” he said. “I don’t think there is any doubt when looking at the numbers that we turned it in to a three-party race. We did not help the Liberals efforts in the area,” Olsen said.
Olsen was quick to praise Macdonald for his victory.
“My message to him is congratulations. He ran a great campaign and I enjoyed campaigning with him and against him. He is a gentlemen.”
Now that the election is over, Clovechok said he hopes that Macdonald realizes he has to make sure he continues to represent the people in the district.
“We are going to hold Mr. Macdonald’s feet to the fire. The people in Columbia River-Revelstoke spoke, and they decided to keep the NDP in this riding, which means yet again it is a riding that does not have a member of the government,” Clovechok said.
Macdonald said that fight will start right away with issues surrounding dialysis, and many other items on the agenda when he gets back to Victoria, even though he is once again on the opposition side of the house.
“The people here have chosen me as their representative, and we will hold them (the BC Liberals) to an account. We will fight to make sure this area is strongly represented.”
