Carmichael to spend time with family after election loss

Conservative MP caught in Liberal tide that swept country

Defeated MP John Carmichael stood with his family when he thanked supporters for backing his unsuccessful campaign to hang on to the Don Valley West riding for the Conservative Party.

While he said “it’s too early to tell” what he will do next, or whether he will seek election again, he was sure about one thing.

“I can tell you my family is the most important thing in my life and I get to spend time with them,” he told the crowd gathered at the Amsterdam Brewery for what they hoped was a victory party.

A few blocks away at The Local Public Eatery, Rob Oliphant of the Liberal Party celebrated his return as MP for Don Valley West.

By 11 p.m., it was confirmed. Oliphant won with 15,174 votes, 2,875 ahead of Carmichael.

Syeda Riaz of the NDP came third with 1,625 votes followed by Natalie Hunt of the Green Party (513) and John Kittredge of the Libertarian Party (263.)

Carmichael acknowledged his defeat with a well-received speech to his supporters and campaign workers.

“I think we delivered on the campaign at every single level,” Carmichael said. “Thank you for your great initiative and great effort throughout this campaign and today.”

Carmichael’s loss had some supporters looking grimly at the TV screens that projected a Liberal win across the country.

Andy Elder, owner of Grilltime, catered the event and is concerned about new taxes that he fears will cost jobs and slow down the economy.

Elder says he believes in “low taxes, stimulating the economy” and creating jobs and encouraging businesses, which he is confident Carmichael can do.

“I’ve attended more breakfast meetings with local business people. He brings great people in to speak to us [and] it’s also a networking opportunity to sit and talk to other small businesses,” said Elder. “Rob Oliphant, our new MP for Don Valley West, I don’t even know if he knows the small businesses in this riding.”

Carmichael said it was a privilege to serve the Don Valley West community.

“I would like to have carried on but that’s not the way it works. In politics some time these things come to an end and tonight it did,” Carmichael said.

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Posted: Oct 20 2015 2:22 pm
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Filed under: Canada Votes 2015
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