The tightest finish in Kootenay-Columbia riding history has resulted in incumbent Conservative Party MP David Wilks being defeated by Wayne Stetski (New Democratic Party).

Cranbrook resident Stetski trailed for the first 180 polling stations reported before he passed Sparwood resident Wilks. From there they seesawed back and forth to the finish line, but once all 262 polls were reported, Stetski outlasted Wilks with 23,529 votes (37.2% of the vote) to 23,244 (36.8%).

Don Johnston (Liberal), finished third with 12,315 (19.5%) votes and Kimberley resident Bill Green (Green Party) earned 4,115 votes (6.5%). Please note these results/figures reported by Elections Canada are preliminary.

Former City of Cranbrook Mayor Stetski is heading to Ottawa as a member of the third-place party following today’s federal election, won by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, which captured 39.5% of all votes.

Beginning with an unprecedented sweep of Atlantic Canada, the Liberal’s barnstormed back into the forefront of federal politics by capturing 184 seats, good for a majority government in the 42^nd Parliament. (Figures from Elections Canada but preliminary.)

Wilks’ Conservatives maintained 99 seats and will serve as Official Opposition, while the NDP, also damaged in the Liberal stampede, collected 44 seats, and Elizabeth May’s Green Party earned one seat – in her Saanich-Gulf Islands Riding. In Quebec, the Bloc Quebecois won 10 seats.

Shortly after being defeated, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced he would be resigning as party leader.

Stetski’s victory is by the closest margin in riding history.

Wilks won 55.88% of the vote in 2011, with runner-up Mark Shmigelsky (NDP) taking 33.18%.

The widest margin of victory in riding history was the 1997 election, with incumbent Reform Party candidate Jim Abbott capturing 61.91% of the vote, compared to runner up Mark Shmigelksy (Liberals) who earned 17.63%.

Voter turnout was also improved over 2011, with 63,203 people casting votes out of 85,653 electors on the list, or 73.79%. A total of 42,788 people cast votes (63.45% voter turnout) in 2011. However, the expanded riding now has a population of 107,589.

Below is a glimpse as to how this tight race went down. 

2 of 262 polls reported in Kootenay-Columbia

Wilks – 137

Stetski – 70

Johnston – 29

Green – 22

15 of 262

Wilks – 1,090

Stetski – 698

Johnston – 405

Green – 137

25 of 262

Wilks – 1,869

Stetski – 1,139

Johnston – 812

Green – 232

45 of 262

Wilks – 2,927

Stetski – 2,160

Johnston – 1,504

Green – 461

70 of 262

Wilks – 4,549

Stetski – 3,625

Johnston – 2,345

Green – 700

115 of 262

Wilks – 7,984

Stetski – 6,816

Johnston – 4,057

Green – 1,350

145 of 262

Wilks – 9,927

Stetski – 9,086

Johnston – 5,236

Green – 1,785

172 of 262

Wilks – 12,207

Stetski – 11,893

Johnston – 6,517

Green – 2,135

179 of 262

Wilks – 13,029

Stetski – 12,991

Johnston – 6,994

Green – 2,278

182 of 262

Stetski – 13,299

Wilks – 13,192

Johnston – 7,126

Green – 2,313

190 of 262 polls

Wilks – 13,878

Stetski – 13,802

Johnston – 7,467

Green – 2,426

200 of 262

Wilks – 14,583

Stetski – 14,330

Johnston – 7,851

Green – 2,536

210 of 262

Stetski – 15,940

Wilks – 15,602

Johnston – 8,429

Green – 2,738

220 of 262

Stetski – 16,875

Wilks – 16,836

Johnston – 9,097

Green – 2,931

221 of 262

Wilks – 16,965

Stetski – 16,919

Johnston – 9,129

Green – 2,942

225 of 262 polls reporting in Kootenay-Columbia

Wilks – 17,822

Stetski – 17,329

Johnston – 9,486

Green – 3,019

230 of 262

Wilks – 18,105

Stetski – 17,548

Johnston – 9,647

Green – 3,086

240 of 262

Wilks – 19,630

Stetski – 18,552

Johnston – 10,283

Green – 3,260

246 of 262

Stetski – 20,792

Wilks – 20,617

Johnston – 10,958

Green – 3,566

249 of 262

Stetski – 21,512

Wilks – 21,317

Johnston – 11,285

Green – 3,737

252 of 262

Stetski – 21,773

Wilks – 21,511

Johnston – 11,460

Green – 3,790

253 of 262

Stetski – 22,073

Wilks – 22,062

Johnston – 11,647

Green – 3,877

255 of 262

Wilks – 22,458

Stetski – 22,300

Johnston – 11,765

Green – 3,940

256 of 262

Wilks – 22,537

Stetski – 22,376

Johnston – 11,834

Green – 3,962

257 of 262

Wilks – 22,551

Stetski – 22,489

Johnston – 11,862

Green – 3,972

258 of 262

Wilks – 22,631

Stetski – 22,536

Johnston – 11,896

Green – 3,992

260 of 262

Stetski – 23,314

Wilks – 22,902

Johnston – 12,161

Green – 4,078

262 of 262 polls reporting in Kootenay-Columbia

Stetski – 23,529

Wilks – 23,244

Johnston – 12,315

Green – 4,115

Final poll reported on Elections Canada at 12:46 a.m., Oct. 20.

Elections Canada

e-KNOW

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