In his loss to the incumbent in Scarborough-Guildwood, Monday night, the Conservative challenger acknowledged what had been a national trend.
Conservative Chuck Konkel won nearly 27 per cent of votes in the federal election, according to the CBC’s Canada Votes website, but could not overcome Liberal John McKay’s commanding 60 per cent of the balloting. In conceding defeat, at a reception in the riding, Konkel admitted that Canadians had made their decision about who they want to govern.
“We lost. … They won because the people of Canada made a decision about what they want. I believe the decision was a wrong one, but it is a democracy,” he said. “It’s the will of the people.”
The 78-day campaign came to an end Monday night, and McKay also defeated the NDP candidate Laura Casselman, who garnered 11 per cent of the voting. McKay has been the MP since 2004.
In conceding the election to the Liberals, Konkel thanked his supporters.
“Thanks to the volunteers that made everything possible,” Konkel said.
One of Konkel’s supporters, Dr. Indran Asirwatham, said that this was not a time to give up on the riding.
“Chuck had a vision for Scarborough-Guildwood,” Asirwatham said. “The riding needs work. … Chuck was the man to do it. It falls on all of us to hold John Mckay’s feet to the fire to do what should have been done. … We still have the energy to fight another one, next time.”