The startling upset for Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost the Ottawa-area riding he’d held for nearly 21 years to a Liberal newcomer, had local voters buzzing the morning after.
By the time Carleton’s giant ballots were counted, Carleton’s MP-elect Bruce Fanjoy had garnered about 51 per cent of the vote to Poilievre’s 46 per cent.
Residents of the rural Ottawa riding who spoke with CBC News on Tuesday offered a variety of reactions and theories about why Poilievre had been ousted.
Michelle Cole said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada’s economy and sovereignty definitely played a role.
“Nothing against Poilievre, but the way Canada’s going, you can imagine that a lot of people were voting the same way in this riding,” she said.
“I feel bad for him because he has all the experience,” Cole added. “He’s done a great job — it’s just everybody is so on this anti-American kick that it was the wrong time.”
“It was definitely shocking for this riding,” said Rory O’Connor. “It’s been Conservative as long as I’ve lived here, and [this is] definitely quite an upset.”
O’Connor said that reversal suggests the Conservatives might need to rethink their priorities.
“I think right now, the party probably needs a reboot. I don’t think that they can continue with their current platform,” he said.
Nick Lecuyer said he never believed Fanjoy had a chance in Carleton, but then he started to see Liberal lawn signs pop up around the riding.
“I think it’s a long time coming that we had a change in this riding specifically. I don’t think Pierre Poilievre did anything for the people of Carleton at all, and I think the Conservative government was potentially very problematic for middle-class people,” Lecuyer said.
Poilievre’s loss was a disappointment to many.
“I’m really concerned with the economy, certainly inflation, spending of money that we don’t have,” said Vic Josey.
“I feel that he’s very sincere and genuine in his feelings for this country,” Josey added. “I think he loves this country and he worked very hard for it over the last three years, but the results didn’t pay off for him.”
Fanjoy said he knocked on more than 15,000 doors and held thousands of conversations with residents of the sprawling riding south of the capital’s urban core.
“It’s been a great privilege to get to know people,” he said. “We were everywhere and we were there regularly, and I think that that made a big difference.”
Fanjoy acknowledged Donald Trump’s hand in the Liberals’ astounding election comeback, but insisted Prime Minister Mark Carney is “uniquely qualified” to deal with the U.S. president.
“We’re all Canadians and we’re in this together and we gotta get through it together, so I’m not worried about how Canadians are going to respond,” he said.
WATCH | More reaction to Fanjoy beating Poilievre:
Fanjoy described the battle for Carleton as a national election in a local riding. Poilievre had held the riding since 2004.
What’s next for Poilievre?
Only months ago, Poilievre was poised to lead the Conservatives to a historic majority government, with polls projecting one of the most lopsided seat counts in 30 years.
But on election night, despite some promising signs nationally, he lost his seat.
His 46 per cent support in the preliminary count was still about what he earned in his first win in Nepean-Carleton in 2004, along with the 2015 and 2019 elections.
While he may vow to stay on as leader, getting a new seat may take a Conservative MP elected Monday night giving up their seat to allow him to run in a byelection — a move that could technically backfire and possibly put the Liberals a seat closer to a majority.
While Poilievre hasn’t spoken to CBC since he lost his riding, on election night he told the Conservative crowd at a downtown Ottawa convention centre there’s more work to do.
“We have to learn the lessons of tonight so that we can have an even better result the next time Canadians decide the future for the country.”