City polling woes, plus Tories keep region

Another MP remarks on the `strange campaign' with little voter contact

Voting in London North Centre was hampered by an Elections Canada decision to locate polling sites far from many in the riding, said newly re-elected Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos.

There was low voter turnout in his riding because many people in Masonville did not travel downtown to polling stations such as RBC Place London and Budweiser Gardens, he said Tuesday, the day after the federal election.

Fragiskatos received 37.6 per cent support, the lowest in the last three elections. In 2015 he received 42.7 per cent of the vote and in 2015, his first win, about 50 per cent.

That, however, is not a sign of diminishing support, but of pandemic-induced voting restrictions, he said.

“I feel good. A win is still a win, but there are nuances here that need to be delved into,” Fragiskatos said Tuesday.

“We had polling locations far from people's homes and that merits attention here. We had low voter turnout in this election.”

The federal election Monday saw one newly elected MP, Liberal Arielle Kayabaga in London West, and familiar faces return in Lindsay Mathyssen in London-fanshawe and Karen Vecchio in Elginmiddlesex-london.

In 2015, London North Centre had 72 per cent voter turnout. In 2019 it was 65 per cent and this year, it was less than 50 per cent, according to the Elections Canada website.

Elections Canada faced restrictions where it could allow voting. Many school boards declined to allow schools to be used because of the pandemic, said Rejean Grenier, spokesperson for Elections Canada.

“I think we have done our best to get people out. A lot of polling places were not available to us. We would have liked to use schools,” said Grenier.

London North Centre had 4,174 mail-in and advance ballots and they have not yet been counted. That will increase voter turnout, said Fragiskatos.

“The vote count is still coming in, the advanced polling was very high,” he said. “I think we will get to 40 per cent.”

London North Centre NDP candidate Dirka Prout received 28.1 per cent of the vote and Conservative Stephen Gallant 26.5 per cent.

In London West, Kayabaga went from being a rookie city councillor to the London's newest member of Parliament, defeating Conservative Rob Flack by 2,773 votes. Kayabaga won 23,678 votes, Flack had 20,905 and NDP candidate Shawna Lewkowitz was third with 16,237.

“I'm excited to continue to be a champion of climate change and affordable housing,” Kayabaga said Monday night.

She took a leave from city council to run for the seat vacated by Liberal Kate Young.

“I want to move Canadians forward from this pandemic, and COVID. I want to help women get back to work and get young Canadians access to housing,” Kayabaga said. “It was great to connect with people in London West, to see what their priorities are. It was a great time campaigning.”

The city will either hold an election to fill her council seat, or councillors will nominate and vote to appoint a successor.

London West was the only riding in the London region without an incumbent. Four federal leaders visited the riding, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Erin O'toole both showing up last Friday.

In London-fanshawe, Mathyssen built a big lead on Conservative candidate Mattias Vanderley and Mohamed Hammoud of the Liberals and never looked back.

“I feel a lot better now than I did about a half hour ago,” Mathyssen said as the results came in for her

re-election win. “You never really know until the numbers come in.”

Mathyssen received 43 per cent of support or 21,482 votes, compared to Vanderley at 24.4 per cent and 12,174 votes. Hammoud was third with 23.3 per cent, and 11,642 votes.

Mathyssen said she looks forward to holding a Liberal minority government to account and ensuring policies are carried forward, such as a national childcare program.

“Knowing what we did during the pandemic, pushing the government to give more than they were willing to give, we have to keep doing that,” she said.

In Elgin-middlesex-london, Conservative Karen Vecchio cruised to victory, easily beating back an aggressive campaign from Chelsea Hillier of the People's Party.

“We worked so hard. It has been a very strange campaign with little voter contact, but I'm so happy,” Vecchio said.

Vecchio won 50 per cent of her riding with 30,044 votes. Liberal Afeez Ajibowu was second with 19.3 per cent of support and 11,756 votes.