It was a bittersweet federal election for both Prince George-area Conservative MP’s.
Tonight (Monday), Bob Zimmer and Todd Doherty won handily in their ridings.
Zimmer obtained over 70% of the vote in Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies
defeating the runner-up Liberal candidate Peter Njenga (18.9 %) while Doherty earned about 60% in Cariboo-Prince George followed by Clinton Emslie of the Liberals (30 %).
Zimmer told Vista Radio it’s a tough pill to swallow with a projected Liberal government staring them in the face, he believes the theme of the election changed when American President Donald Trump got involved.
“The US president became the theme of the election and the electorate moved from Justin Trudeau as someone they wanted to defeat and then that same focus went to Trump in the end instead of the Liberal party.”
Zimmer added the whole election was a bit of a mixed bag with the final result of losing to the Liberals again hurting the most.
“We saw some really strong showings in some ridings we didn’t hold that we do now and with that said, we lost a few colleagues that we didn’t expect. It’s unfortunate because they were some strong shadow ministers.”
Doherty on the other hand, stated he will return to Ottawa with a renewed sense of motivation.
“We have a lot of work that we need to do. The numbers that are showing right now it will force Mark Carney and the Liberals that they are going to have to work with us.”
As for Doherty, he will continue to work across party lines to get more done, like he has done in the past.
“Initiatives such as 9-8-8 – the national suicide three-digit hotline and C-211 which made Canada the first country in the world to develop a national framework as it pertains to post-traumatic stress disorder when it comes to veterans, military and first responders.”
Cariboo-Prince George: (As of 11 pm Monday)
Todd Doherty (Conservative) — 60.1% (Votes: 23,770)
Clinton Emslie (Liberal) — 30.0% (Votes: 11,864)
Angie Bonazzo (NDP) — 6.7% (Votes: 2,632)
Jodie Capling (Green Party) — 1.8% (Votes: 716)
Rudy Sans (PPC) — 0.8% (Votes: 298)
Jake Wiens (Christian Heritage Party) — 0.3% (Votes: 131)
Kenneth B. Thomson (Independent) — 0.3% (Votes: 127)
Polls reporting: 186 of 266
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies: (As of 11 Pm Monday)
Bob Zimmer (Conservative) — 71.4% (Votes: 28,236)
Peter Njenga (Liberal) — 18.9% (Votes: 7,483)
Cory Grizz Longley (NDP) — 6.1% (Votes: 2,397)
Mary Forbes (Green Party) — 2.2% (Votes: 876)
David Watson (PPC) — 1.4% (Votes: 538)
Polls reporting: 208 of 275
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