Yurdiga new MP for Fort McMurray-Athabasca

Fort McMurray-Athabasca remains under the Conservative banner with former Athabasca County councillor David Yurdiga the new MP for the riding after the June 30 byelection. ;

Yurdiga took approximately 47 per cent of the 12,600 or so votes cast in the riding as of time of posting, with one poll left to report. ;

“It's about making our region a lot more prosperous and looking after our seniors and making sure we have proper infrastructure funding to ensure that our communities grow properly, ” said Yurdiga late Monday night after victory was assured but polls were still reporting. ;

“I guess the most nervous part was when the polls started coming in, ” he said. “That ’s usually the biggest challenge you have, is waiting for the next poll and the next poll. ” ;

It ’s a decisive win, but not as decisive as what the Conservatives have been accustomed to in the riding. Liberal candidate Kyle Harrietha took approximately 35 per cent of the votes. ;

“Considering where we were -we finished third in the last two elections -a positive message of change at the doorstep and engaging voters face to face has been a big success in this byelection campaign, ” Harrietha said. ;

Since the Fort McMurray-Athabasca riding was formed in 2004, the closest any other candidate has come to the Conservative winner was Mel H. Buffalo for the Liberals in 2006 with 14.78 per cent of the vote compared to Brian Jean ’s 64.66 per cent. ;

It won ’t be the last time Harrietha and Yurdiga meet: both say they will run in the new Fort McMurray-Cold Lake riding in the next federal election. ;

Athabasca will not be a part of that riding; it will be a part of the Lakeland riding. ;

For the New Democrats, Lori McDaniel took 11.4 per cent of the votes; Brian Deheer with the Green Party took 3.5 per cent; and Libertarian leader Tim Moen took 2.9 per cent as of time of posting. ;

Voter turnout was approximately 15 per cent, or around 12,600 of 83,647 registered electors (voters who registered on election day not included). ;

For more, see Tuesday ’s Athabasca Advocate. ;