Conservatives clinch Calgary byelections: Stephanie Kusie and Bob Benzen elected

Voters in two federal Calgary ridings are keeping it Conservative electing Bob Benzen and Stephanie Kusieas their new representatives in Ottawa.

Five federal byelections were held Monday in three provinces:

• Calgary Heritage
• Calgary Midnapore
• Ottawa-Vanier
• Markham-Thornhill
• Saint-Laurent

Both Calgary Midnapore and Calgary Heritage have been considered Conservative strongholds since their creation.

• Byelection results: Tories hold Calgary seats, Liberals to keep Ottawa, Montreal, Markham

Calgary Heritage

Bob Benzen won the riding of Calgary Heritage with 71.5 per cent of the vote.The seat was vacated by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, who left politics shortly after the 2015 federal election.

Benzen is a longtime Calgarian and small-business owner. According to his website, he is a loyal Conservative Party activist and donor who spearheaded the Decade of Excellenceproject to thank Harper for years of service.

At his victory rally Monday night, Benzen was introduced by the former prime minister's younger brother, Robert Harper.

"Many people have pointed out to me that I have really big shoes to fill," Benzen said, remarkingtheriding, as both Calgary Heritage and Calgary Southwest, was previously held by conservative heavyweights like Harper and former Reform Party leader Preston Manning.

Benzentold the crowd their victory sends a message to Prime Minister Justin Trudeauthat Calgary Heritage rejects the carbon tax, out-of-control spendingand government mismanagement.

"What we want are jobs, economic growth and secure borders. And when Iget to Ottawa, this is the message that I will deliver," he said.

Liberal candidate Scott Forsyth came in second in the byelectionwith 21.7 per cent of the vote. NDP candidateKhalis Ahmedcame in third with 2.9 per cent.

In the 2015 election, Harper, the incumbent, won 64 per cent of the vote, while Liberal Brendan Miles took 26 per cent.

Bob Benzen vows to hold 'Trudeau's government's feet to the fire' in victory speech

8 years ago

Duration 0:39

Bob Benzen won the riding of Calgary Heritage. The seat was vacated by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, who left politics shortly after the 2015 federal election.

Calgary Midnapore

In Calgary Midnapore, Stephanie Kusie was elected to fill the seat previously held by former Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney, who resigned his seat to run for the Progressive Conservative leadership in Alberta, which he won.

"Tonight the voters in our riding chose to continue supporting the principles that have made Calgary Midnapore a bedrock of this nation," Kusie said to a cheering crowd.

Kusie is a former diplomat who ran in Ward 12 in the 2013 municipal election, losing out to Shane Keating. She then took over the role as executive director at Common Sense Calgary described as a "citizen's advocacy group dedicated to lower taxation and responsible spending at city hall."

Kusie said her priorities in Ottawa will be to fight for lower taxes, defend the energy sector, promote responsible and accountable government and support seniors and small businesses.

"I think [the Conservative victory] sends a message that the Liberal Party's policies, [Prime Minister] Justin's [Trudeau]policies, are not working here in Calgary Midnapore," she said.

"This speaks of the wishes and the desires of the constituents in Calgary Midnapore that they are simply not satisfied with the Liberal government and that they feel that they deserve better."

Kusiewon the riding with a 77 per cent of the vote, according to Elections Canada, a higher margin than Kenney's67 per cent of the vote in 2015.

Haley Brown, the Liberal candidate who also ran against Kenney in 2015, took 17 per cent of the vote a drop from the 22 per cent she got in the last election. NDP candidate Holly Heffernanearned 2.5 per cent of votes.

Stephanie Kusie speaks after decisive victory in Caglary Midnapore

8 years ago

Duration 0:32

In Calgary Midnapore, Stephanie Kusie was elected to fill the seat previously held by former Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney, who resigned his seat to run for the Progressive Conservative leadership in Alberta.

Status quo, says political scientist

Despite both Bezenand Kusie'sdeclarationstheir respective victories send a message to Trudeau's ruling party, Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University,said the byelection results don't really say much about the state of politics in Canada at all.

"This is status quo,"Brattsaid. "Look at how much Stephen Harper and JasonKenneywon those ridings in 2015."

"It speaks more that Heritage andMidnaporeare veryblue ridings."

According to Elections Canada, voter turnout in both Calgary riding hoveredaround33 per cent, whichBrattsaid reflects a lack of enthusiasm and buzz around thebyelection.

"We're having fivebyelectionssimultaneously and normally, we view that as kind of a barometer on the government or almost like a mini election," he said.

"Butthe Liberals held onto their seats and the Conservatives held out to their seats and it wasn't even close."