Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Hastings Lennox and Addington went blue on Monday night, electing Conservative Derek Sloan over Liberal incumbent Mike Bossio, 21,225 to 18,991, with over 98 per cent of polls reported.
Sloan was gathered by family, friends and campaign volunteers at Spud’s Restaurant in Napanee to watch the results roll in.
When it became clear he would be Hastings Lennox and Addington’s new Member of Parliament, he thanked his supporters and delivered his victory speech.
“Investments in infrastructure will increase productivity over time and we need that investment now,” said Sloan. “We also need access to reliable and affordable high speed internet and mobile connectivity which is essential to grow business, apply to jobs, do homework and access government services.”
“Internet is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity,” he continued. “Over time we need to deal with the issues of public health, safety and social issues and the environment.”
Sloan added the riding needs more educational facilities established so that workers don’t have to go to other areas to get training.
“I will start by doing what I did when I started with this campaign, which is meeting with all the local reeves and mayors of our 19 municipalities and our Tyendinaga reserve and figuring out what their priorities are so I can bring them to Ottawa,” added Sloan. “The job starts tomorrow.”
“It’s been a lot of work. I guess it sort of culminates in this one moment,” Sloan added. “But in a way, this day was just like any other day in the campaign, and the nine months we’ve been campaigning. As satisfying as it is, we put in the work and it turned our way this time. I know the other candidates, in particular Mike Bossio, worked hard as well. Sometimes it goes our way and sometimes it goes the other way. It obviously feels good.”
Before taking the podium Sloan commented that he had two speeches prepared-one for a Conservative majority and one for a Conservative minority. As results came in and it became clear Canada would be governed by a Liberal minority with Justin Trudeau at the helm, he turned to the envelope he was hoping he wouldn’t have to open.
“Obviously it’s a bit of a disappointment,” Sloan said of the federal results across the rest of the country. “I would have preferred more seats but we didn’t (win more). I don’t know what our strategy is going to be but my strategy is to work for the riding as best I can with whatever government takes place. That’s all I can do.”
On the topic of a coalition, he said he’s open to the idea.
“Speaking on behalf of myself as opposed to my party, I believe Andrew Scheer has said he’s open to working with other parties,” said Sloan. “I believe that’s still our approach.”
He also noted that he’d have to wait to see how the rest of the government was formed before he could determine what his first priority would be.
A couple of kilometres away the vibe was much different at Napanee’s Waterfront Pub as Bossio conceded defeat. While the mood of his supporters was sullen, the outgoing MP was upbeat.
Hastings Lennox and Addington Liberal incumbent Mike Bossio was all smiles as he entered the Waterfront Pub to watch election results roll in. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
“It’s been an incredible honour,” Bossio said of the last four years. “Our team, the day we got elected, we said to ourselves we don’t know how long we have this opportunity, so we’re not going to waste a moment of it. I really feel that most constituents would say that we didn’t waste a moment of that opportunity. I will work with Derek Sloan to try and help with the transition to get a good start, something I didn’t have. I don’t want to see him go through the same thing I did. I don’t want that to happen to our constituents.”
Though it wasn’t the result he was looking for, Bossio was still all smiles as he delivered his trademark hugs throughout the room.
“I’m not sad,” said Bossio. “We did so much. There’s many chapters in this book to be written and we haven’t even gotten started yet. There’s other opportunities that will present themselves down the road and we’ll see where it leads us. I am just so fortunate.”
Following Bossio in third place for the riding was NDP’s David Tough, who at 1:22 a.m. Tuesday morning had garnered 6,840 votes with two polls still yet to report. The Green’s Sari Watson had 2,991 votes while Adam Gray of the People’s Party of Canada had 1,274.