Liberals shut out as Conservatives sweep nearly every Alberta riding
The Liberals were shut out of Alberta on Monday night when incumbents Amarjeet Sohi, Randy Boissonnault and Kent Hehr lost their seats as the Conservatives almost swept the province.
Canadians elected a Liberal minority government but not a single one of the party's MPs will come from Alberta. Conservative candidates were victorious in 33 of the 34 Alberta ridings.
Candidate Heather McPherson was able to keep Edmonton-Strathcona in NDP hands. The central-Edmonton riding had been represented by NDP MP Linda Duncan for 11 years.
McPherson told reporters that her campaign took nothing for granted and worked right up "to the very last hour."
"Holding this seat was really important to us," she said. "It was really important that Alberta, all Albertans, have one progressive candidate representing them in Ottawa, and I'm so delighted I'm that candidate."
Sohi, natural resources minister in Justin Trudeau's cabinet, was defeated in Edmonton Mill Woods by Conservative Tim Uppal.
Uppal was the MP for Edmonton-Sherwood Park from 2008 to 2015. He ran in Edmonton Mill Woods in 2015 but lost to Sohi by 92 votes.
"I am so happy and proud to have the support that I got here, and I will represent them in every single way possible that I can," Uppal said at his campaign party. "We want to make sure that Alberta's economy comes back on track, and we'll hold Justin Trudeau to account."
In his concession speech, Sohi said he was proud of the work he did to ensure the federal government did additional consultation with Indigenous communities on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
He congratulated Uppal for his victory and consoled his supporters.
"Yes, we lost the election today, because democracy is something wonderful and we need to accept the results of people because serving in office and being a politician is not a right," Sohi said. "It's a privilege ... that all of us have to continue to work hard to earn."
In Edmonton Centre, Boissonnault lost his bid for a second term to Conservative James Cumming, his closest challenger in the 2015 election.
Cumming, the CEO of an Edmonton business development company, said his priority is getting Alberta's economy back on track.
"We need to get policies that are going to help not only Alberta but the rest of Western Canada," he told reporters at his campaign headquarters.
"We knocked on over 60,000 doors and I'm telling you people told me that they feel that they're they're not getting ahead. We're going to hold [the government's] feet to the fire to make sure that that happens."
Boissonnault told his supporters that it was an honour to have represented Edmonton Centre in the House of Commons.
"Edmonton has my heart and soul and I'm not going anywhere," he said to cheers from the crowd. "The future may look a little different right now, but just as you have been there to support me and us, and our noble cause, know this — I will be there to support you."
In Calgary Centre, Kent Hehr, one of two Liberals elected in Calgary four years ago, was defeated by Conservative Greg McLean in Calgary Centre.
Conservative candidate Jag Sahota won in Calgary Skyview, which elected Liberal Darshan Kang in 2015. Kang left the Liberal caucus following sexual harassment allegations. He sat as an independent for the rest of this term and did not run for re-election.
Conservative Kerry Diotte won a second term in Edmonton Griesbach, defeating high-profile NDP challenger Mark Cherrington. Conservative Matt Jeneroux was re-elected in Edmonton Riverbend. Michael Cooper was also re-elected for the Conservatives in St. Albert-Edmonton.
Candidates elected from Edmonton and northern Alberta:
Battle River-Crowfoot: Damien Kurek, Conservative
Edmonton Centre: James Cumming, Conservative
Edmonton Griesbach: Kerry Diotte, Conservative
Edmonton Manning: Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative
Edmonton Mill Woods: Tim Uppal, Conservative
Edmonton Riverbend: Matt Jeneroux, Conservative
Edmonton Strathcona: Heather McPherson, NDP
Edmonton West: Kelly McCauley, Conservative
Edmonton Wetaskiwin: Mike Lake, Conservative
Fort McMurray Cold Lake: David Yurdiga, Conservative
Grande Prairie-Mackenzie: Chris Warkentin, Conservative
Lakeland: Shannon Stubbs, Conservative
Red Deer-Lacombe: Blaine Calkins, Conservative
Red Deer-Mountain View: Earl Dreeshen, Conservative
Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan: Garnett Genius, Conservative
St. Albert Edmonton: Michael Cooper, Conservative
Sturgeon River Parkland: Dane Lloyd, Conservative
Peace River-Westlock: Arnold Viersen, Conservative
Yellowhead: Gerald Soroka, Conservative
