Neil Ellis first MP in new Bay of Quinte riding

Support for Justin Trudeau 2.0 rolled through the nation in a Liberal majority government red wave that also swept up the new Bay of Quinte riding Monday night.

Liberal candidate Neil Ellis is the new Bay of Quinte riding’s first federal member of parliament.

Ellis had 29,366 votes while Conservative Jodie Jenkins pulled in 19,882. Voter turnout was 69.06 per cent at the riding’s 241 polls.

“Hugh O’Neil, this one’s for you,” Ellis said as he shared the stage in front of hundreds of supporters at the Empire Theatre, with his wife Susan, and family.

Neil Ellis with Lyle Vanclief

O’Neil, 79, was a former Quinte riding MPP from 1975-1995 and cabinet minister and strong supporter of the Ellis campaign. O’Neil died a week after helping to open the Trenton campaign office and hosting a barbecue.

In back-to-back touching moments Ellis hugged O’Neil’s wife Donna and shared thoughts on Hugh and he also was warmly greeted by Lyle Vanclief, of Ameliasburgh, who was Liberal MP from 1988 to 2004 and served as Minister of Agriculture and Food 1997 to 2003.

Ellis thanked his family for love and support, the riding board and the many volunteers throughout the campaign.

“We worked hard and from the bottom of my heart I thank you, and my family. This is incredible,” said Ellis. “Thank you to everybody who lent me their vote. Everybody’s a somebody to me.”

We had close to 3,000 signs on private properties,” he said. “We had a great County group and the signs kept coming out and Quinte West also, we had the biggest canvass ever.”

Jodie Jenkins with supporters and team at the new Trent Port Marina in Trenton.

Jenkins, meanwhile, was surrounded by supporters at the new Trent Port Marina, in Trenton.

“We did nothing wrong in this campaign,” he said. “We can be proud of the work we accomplished.” Jenkins also thanked his many volunteers, his wife, and team. “I am proud.”

Terry Cassidy with team and supporters at the Wild Card pub and brewery in Trenton.

NDP candidate Terry Cassidy also thanked his supporters and team. He said the party fell victim to the nation-wide disdain of the Conservatives, led by Stephen Harper and that some media outlets may have played a part in the tide of the Liberal campaign. “Voters started to follow along and followed the polls,” he said. “There are a lot of people struggling here and we were the hope for them.”

The former Prince Edward Hastings incumbent Conservative MP Daryl Kramp was upset in his new Hastings Lennox & Addington riding in a close contest all evening that ended 373 votes behind Liberal Mike Bossio.

Justin Trudeau, 43, makes history as Canada’s first political dynasty as son of former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who served for 16 years. He died in 2000.

“We beat fear with hope,” Trudeau said. “We beat cynicism with hard work. We beat negative, divisive politics with a positive vision that brings Canadians together.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, looking for his fourth mandate, will instead, according to the party, step down as leader.

The Liberals were elected or leading in 184 ridings, the Tories 102 seats; the NDP 41; Bloc 10, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May was re-elected. The Liberals were leading with 40 per cent of the popular vote, followed by the Conservatives with 32 per cent and the NDP with 18 per cent.

Bay of Quinte results 241 polls:
Neil Ellis, Liberal: 29,366 votes (50.6%)
Jodie Jenkins, Conservative: 19,882 (34.3%)
Terry Cassidy, NDP: 7,081 (12.2%)
Rachel Nelems, Green: 1,278 (2.2%)
Trueman Tuck, independent: 373 (0.6%)

Voter turnout: 69.06%, or 57,980 of 83,954 registered electors. (Does not include electors who registered on election day.) Population: 109,488