Conservative incumbent Bergen re-elected in Portage-Lisgar

Conservative Candice Bergen was re-elected in Portage-Lisgar, CBC has declared.

"I'm extremely grateful to my volunteers," said Bergen."I'm honoured. I feel very happy, obviously, that I've won, and I'm just grateful for the people who came out and supported me."

Today is bittersweet, shesaid.

"I'm very, very happy and grateful that I've won my seat in Portage-Lisgar and, at the same time, I'm concerned about the direction the country could go in. But then at the same time, I absolutely respect the Canadian people and their decision. And Canadian people are smart. They know what they want and they've made a decision," she said.

With nearly all206 polls reported, Bergen was electedin the Torystronghold with 60.9per cent of the vote. Liberal candidateKen Werbiskiwas far behindwith 25per cent of the vote.

"Quite honestly, I'm happy with the results," saidWerbiski, "I have never run before. I have no experience. I quite honestly wasn't really sure what I was doing when I started, and I have received over 10,000 votes in Portage-Lisgar."

Werbiskisaid he plans to run again in the next federal election.

"Talking to people at the door who were looking for change, who were wanting something different, we may not have achieved that in Portage-Lisgar, but we certainly achieved that in the country," he said.

In 2011, Portage-Lisgar elected Bergen (formerly Hoeppner) with an overwhelming majority, nearly 76 per cent of the vote. The NDP's Mohamed Alli came in second with less than 10 per cent of the vote.

A resident of Winkler, Man., Bergenwas first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. She served as minister of state for social development, which covers issues relating to affordable housing and support for people with disabilities.In the lead-up to the 2011 election, she advocated for the abolishment of Canada's long-gun registry.

Dean Harder is the NDP candidate running for Portage-Lisgar. He's the operations manager for his family farm in Lowe Farm, Man. He was a vocal opponent of the Conservatives' dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board in 2011.

Liberal candidate Ken Werbiski is a licensed practical nurse who works at Portage District General Hospital on thedialysis ward.

Portage-Lisgar has a significantMennonite population. The riding has the highest percentage of German speakers in the country, at more than 24 per cent. The boundaries include the Manitobacommunities of Winkler,Morden, Portage la Prairie and Altona.

There werefive candidates inPortage-Lisgar:

• Candice Bergen, Conservative Party of Canada;
• JeromeDondo,Christian Heritage Party of Canada;
• BeverleyEert, Green Party of Canada;
• Dean Harder, New Democratic Party; and
• Ken Werbiski, Liberal Party of Canada.

Manitoba Progressive Conservative LeaderBrianPallisterserved as MP for Portage-Lisgarbefore Bergen, from 2000to 2008.