Winnipeg North speaks

Democracy works. That’s the message that rang through the Punjab Banquet Hall on Monday night during the Winnipeg North federal byelection.

Piercing wind and flying snow couldn’t keep 300 Kevin Lamoureux supporters from watching the former Liberal Party of Canada’s Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Inkster win Winnipeg North’s Member of Parliament (MP) seat with 46 per cent of the vote.

A sea of red and white exploded in whistles and cheers as supporters as multicultural as the riding itself jumped up and down as the newly elected Member of Parliament entered the hall.

Lamoureux addressed the crowd and greeted many constituents by their first names.

“For those of you that have been with me for years, thank you,” he said. “Politics is about engaging people and building on relationships. I couldn’t have done it with you.”

Winnipeg North has been a New Democratic Party (NDP) riding for years. In the 2008 federal election, NDP MP Jusy Wasylycia-Leis won the seat she’d held since 1997 with 62.61 per cent of the vote. Lamoureux stepped down as MLA for Inkster, a position he’d held since 1988, to run in her place when she resigned to run for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2010.

According to the Elections Canada website, NDP candidate Kevin Chief came in a close second with 41.7 per cent of the vote. The Conservative Party of Canada’s Julie Javier received 10.3 per cent of the vote, Pirate Party of Canada’s Jeff Coleman received 0.6 per cent of the vote, Green Party of Canada’s John Harvie received 0.7 per cent of the vote, Communist Party of Canada’s Frank Komarniski received 0.4 per cent of the vote, and Christian Heritage Party of Canada’s Eric Truijen got 0.3 per cent of the vote.

After tonight’s byelection, the Conservative Party of Canada has 143 seats in the House of Commons, the Liberal Party of Canada has 77 seats, the Bloc Québécois has 47 seats, and the NDP has 36 seats. Two seats belong to individuals and three remain vacant.

Jan Gabbs, 67, said it is Lamoureux’s dedication to his constituents that sets him apart.

“Every Thursday night he holds meetings at McDonald’s where any constituent can come to talk to him,” she said. “When he moves to Ottawa, he’ll come home every weekend to do the same thing.”

Vince Vasallo, 37, said Lamoureux’s leadership is hope for Canada’s future.

“If you ever need any help with government problems, even if you don’t live in his area, he’ll help you.” he said. “I hope he becomes party leader and eventually prime minister.”