With Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon showing incumbent Brad Vis, other candidates have reacted to the results of the 2021 federal election with optimism and positivity.
After 179 of 180 polls have reported, Liberal candidate Geet Grewal earned 10,071 votes (24.5 per cent).
“This was the first time I ever ran an election; I am so proud of the campaign we ran together,” Grewal said in a statement to Black Press. “I was able to talk about issues that are important to Canadians such as child care, climate change and affordability. Mission-Matsqui Fraser Canyon will be my home. I’m committed here. And I will work tirelessly for our community. This is just the beginning of the work I will do for our community.”
NDP candidate Lynn Perrin earned 20.2 per cent of the vote with 8,333 votes as of publication. She said she was overall very pleased with how the NDP fared during this election.
“We gained some seats, and that’s always good,” she said. “I was watching results come in from across the country, and I’m just delighted that Ruth Ellen (Borsseau) in Quebec and a bunch of wonderful NDP incumbents are back again in the House of Commons.”
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Although it’s not clear if Perrin will be running again in the near future, she plans to persist in policy analysis and advocacy for people seeking government assistance that led her to become and NDP candidate in the first place.
“I don’t just walk away from the campaign,” Perrin said. “If you ever need some help, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.”
Perrin offered her thanks to her “mighty team” and all voters who cast their ballots for her.
“As (Party leader Jagmeet Singh) said on Tuesday, it is always worth the time, energy and cost to hear directly from the voters about the challenges they are facing to better know what we must do in Parliament,” Perrin said.
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Especially considering this was his first election, PPC candidate Tyler Niles was very happy with his performance. As of press time, Niles received nearly 3,000 votes or 7.3 per cent of ballots cast.
“We outperformed last election’s results and blew the Greens out of the water (locally),” Niles said. “It was an uphill battle from the get-go. I had fun, and I think I was able to get a lot of people to see our side of the political spectrum.”
Niles had “nothing but good things” to say about the team of volunteers backing him up and thanked the candidates and voters.
Green Party candidate Nicole Bellay came away with nearly 1,800 votes or 4.4 per cent of ballots cast by the time nearly all polls reported. While she said was disappointed in the results, Bellay said she also wasn’t surprised the government stayed much the same.
This year marked Bellay’s first campaign; she said she entered the race at the last minute and with limited resources. She’s taken the campaign as a learning experience for her next run.
For now, she plans to return to being involved in her community of Mission and keeping in contact with the Green Party as they decide their next move.
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