Conservative candidate Rob Morrison has been elected in the riding of Kootenay-Columbia.
With all 268 polls reporting, Morrison had 45.1 per cent of the vote, with 29,893 votes.
Incumbent Wayne Stetski of the NDP was second at 34.2 per cent with 22,707 votes.
Robin Goldsbury of the Liberals finished third at 9.1 per cent (6,033), earning 35 more votes than fourth-place finisher Abra Brynne of the Greens (9.0 per cent, 5,988 votes).
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For decades the riding was safe ground for candidates on the right wing of the political spectrum. The riding had elected Reform, Alliance, and Conservatives candidates since its inception in 1997.
But 2015 was different. The NDP picked up the seat in a close race that was very much the tale of two regions. Stetski took advantage of his support around Nelson, securing 23,529 votes (37.2 per cent) in the riding. Conservative incumbent David Wilks received the bulk of his support in and around Cranbrook, but fell just 282 votes short of winning.
Candidates
NDP: Wayne Stetski
Liberal: Robin Goldsbury
Conservative: Rob Morrison
Green: Abra Brynne
People’s Party of Canada: Richard D. Stewart
Animal: Trev Miller
Libertarian: Terry Tiessen
Geography
The riding covers the communities of Nelson, Creston, Revelstoke, Cranbrook, Golden and Fernie.
Demographics
European: 92,475, 84 per cent
Aboriginal: 9,075, 8.2 per cent
South Asian: 715, 0.6 per cent
Filipino: 705, 0.6 per cent
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