Federal Conservatives win reliable stronghold in Alberta byelection
Posted Oct 24, 2016 10:17 pm.
Last Updated Oct 25, 2016 5:55 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – A large turnout for Justin Trudeau during an Alberta byelection campaign wasn’t enough of a push for the Liberals in the federal constituency of Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.
Conservative Glen Motz, a retired Medicine Hat police officer, appeared to cruise to an easy victory as votes were counted Monday night.
The byelection was called after MP Jim Hillyer died of a heart attack earlier this year in his Parliament Hill office.
The last MP Medicine Hat voters elected who wasn’t from a right-of-centre party was Bud Olson, who was originally voted in as a member of the Social Credit and crossed to the Liberals.
He was re-elected when the party swept to power under Pierre Trudeau in 1968, but Olson lost in 1972.
The prime minister attracted about 2,500 people when he visited the riding earlier this month in an effort to boost the chances of Liberal candidate Stan Sakamoto, who was far behind as results came in.
