Esquimalt-JDF riding goes orange after West Shore leaders bank on blue

Randall Garrison will be one of about 100 rookie MPs sitting in the House of Commons when the 41st Parliament resumes.

But Esquimalt-Juan de FucaB次元官网网址檚 newly elected NDP MP doesnB次元官网网址檛 expect heB次元官网网址檒l face too much of a learning curve.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been doing this kind of work all my life, whether for community organizations, non-governmental organizations, or at the council table,B次元官网网址� Garrison, 60, said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l have to learn a new forum, but itB次元官网网址檚 not different from the work IB次元官网网址檝e always been doing.B次元官网网址�

Garrison came out ahead of Conservative rival Troy DeSouza by about 400 votes, although the count isnB次元官网网址檛 official for two weeks.

B次元官网网址淥nce the results are confirmed, weB次元官网网址檒l start to make plans for Ottawa and setting up a constituency office,B次元官网网址� Garrison said.

HeB次元官网网址檒l also officially resign his seat on Esquimalt city council and let Camosun College know he wonB次元官网网址檛 be returning as a criminal justice professor.

In the meantime, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of people who want to talk to him. When he checked his phone and email on the morning after being elected he had about 60 messages from people wanting an appointment.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of work to do here already,B次元官网网址� he said, noting his priorities remain as the issues he campaigned on B次元官网网址� sustainable transportation to ease congestion on the Trans Canada Highway, supporting families and veterans, and protecting military jobs at CFB Esquimalt.

While he hadnB次元官网网址檛 yet seen the demographic breakdown of who voted for him, Garrison suspected his success depended on receiving the vote of the many young families who live on the West Shore. Youth voters were also targeted in his campaign.

B次元官网网址淲e had a very strong social media campaign and a very strong response from youth. My campaign team is probably the youngest campaign team IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that his sign coordinator was a Grade 11 student at Belmont secondary B次元官网网址� not even old enough to vote.

B次元官网网址淵outh were very involved in this campaign and thatB次元官网网址檚 the message we carried out into the public B次元官网网址� that youth can make a difference.B次元官网网址�

Voter turnout increased slightly in Esquimalt-JDF and nationally.

Nation-wide 61.4 per cent of voters cast a ballot, up from 59.1 per cent in 2008. Locally, turnout was above the national average, with 66.2 per cent participation, up from 64.6 per cent in the previous election.

With incumbent MP Keith Martin (Liberal) resigning his seat, pundits predicted a close race, and indeed it was. Both on their third shot at Esquimalt-JDF, Garrison squeaked in the win with 26,198 votes to DeSouzaB次元官网网址檚 25,792 votes, a difference of 406 or 0.6 per cent of the ballots.

The new Liberal candidate, Lillian Szpak was a distant third, behind by nearly 20,000 votes.

B次元官网网址淚 think here the Liberal vote was artificially high (in 2008) because of Keith Martin B次元官网网址� who was a fine person who drew votes from all across the political spectrum,B次元官网网址� Garrison said. B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e reverted back to the normal B.C. pattern here, where itB次元官网网址檚 actually New Democrats who beat Conservatives.B次元官网网址�

Reaction to NDP win in Esquimalt-JDF

With GarrisonB次元官网网址檚 win Monday, Esquimalt-JDF has retained its long-standing opposition status, to the chagrin of West Shore pundits.

The mayors of Colwood and Langford say theyB次元官网网址檝e got nothing against Garrison B次元官网网址� but theyB次元官网网址檇 rather have an MP from the ruling party.

As a municipal lawyer for Langford and as someone who opened doors to Conservative cabinet ministers, DeSouza was a familiar face to many West Shore politicians.

B次元官网网址淭roy did a great job getting infrastructure dollars to Langford,B次元官网网址� said Langford Mayor Stew Young on election night. B次元官网网址淲e had hoped his hard work would result in a seat in Ottawa.B次元官网网址�

Colwood Mayor Dave Saunders credited DeSouza with helping bring the prime minister to the West Shore at least three times in the past few years.

B次元官网网址淲ill it be more difficult to without an MP sitting in government to secure (federal) funding? Absolutely,B次元官网网址� Saunders said. B次元官网网址淏ut we are used to that, weB次元官网网址檙e used to not having a sitting member. ItB次元官网网址檚 business as usual.

B次元官网网址淏ut the positive thing is we have a stable government, something we havenB次元官网网址檛 had for a long time.B次元官网网址�

Saunders hopes Garrison becomes a strong advocate for helping solve traffic woes dogging the West Shore. B次元官网网址淭he No. 1 issue remains traffic congestion not only for the West Shore, but the entire region.B次元官网网址�

West Shore Chamber of Commerce boss Dan Spinner said heB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to meeting and working with the new Esquimalt-JDF MP.

Spinner suspects Garrison will be a keen ally on investing in commuter rail on the E&N line, a much cheaper proposition than the recently released $950 million rapid transit plan.

B次元官网网址淕arrison looks to be on top of the issues,B次元官网网址� Spinner said.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com