HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-06-30, Page 3Fisher blames young age of Conservatives
and running against an incumbent for loss
By Marie Wilson
Kincardine News Editor
Conservative Party
candidate Barb Fisher
believes the young age of her
party combined with the fact
that she was up against an
incumbent with three terms
behind him, contributed to her
defeat in Monday night's
federal election.
"Incumbents are always
tough to beat," she said in an
interview from Kincardine
where she watched the results
at home with her family. "Paul
(Steckle) runs his campaign
on the basis that he's a
maverick and some people
like that and no doubt you
have to stand up for what you
believe in and this time, that's
what the voters of Huron -
Bruce chose."
The fact that her newly
combined party (Alliance and
Progressive Conservatives)
found itself facing a federal
election so soon after its
inception was another factor,
Fisher said.
"The general public didn't
have a lot of time to get to
know the party or our leader
before we were facing an
election," she said.
Fisher also noted as recently
as a week ago, there were still
a lot of undecided voters
"who decided to carry on with
what they know rather than
with someone new."
Fisher she she doesn't
believe her association with
Adam McGuire photo
Huron -Bruce Conservative candidate Barb Fisher is consoled by a well-wisher after she learns
of her Toss in Monday night's federal election
the former provincial
Conservative government of
Mike Hams (MPP from 1995
-1999) was a negative factor
for her in Huron -Bruce.
"At least that's not what the
voters were telling me that I
met going door to door," she
said.
With a Liberal minority
government on the horizon
and the balance of power
falling to the Bloc, Fisher was
anticipating there will be
another election sooner than
later, and she isn't counting
herself out of the running yet.
"I never say never," she said.
Although she was
disappointed with the results,
Fisher had nothing but praise
for campaign workers and
supporters.
"It was a great campaign and
one of the biggest I've ever
been involved with," she said.
"I'm extremely proud of the
work everyone did on my
behalf."
Fisher left for Goderich from
her home in Kincardine at
about 11 p.m. Monday night
to join party workers at the
headquarters in Goderich.
This was the 19th campaign
the former municipal and
provincial politician has been
involved with as either a
candidate or organizer.
Robertson thinks NDP were victims
of low voter turnout and strategic voting
By Sara CampbeN
lucknow Sentinel Staff
New Democratic Party
candidate candidate Grant
Robertson was at the
Lucknow Legion with his
family and supporters
watching local and national
election results on television.
"I am pleased to see the
NDP has increased the
number of seats. On a
national level, it's nice to see
that the NDP will be able to
keep the Liberals to their
promises," said Robertson of
the election results. "We'll
have a central voice in
parliament."
Grant Robertson
But Robertson said he was
surprised by the low number
of voters locally.
"I think we have been
victims of strategic voting.
It's disappointing that there
Rural health care
remains a top priority
for re-elected Steckle
From Pogo 1
Health care also remains a
top priority for Steckle, who
pointed to a first ministers'
meeting with the prime
minister in late July or early
August.
"I look forward to sort of
finding resolve in these
(issues) because certainly we
in rural Canada here in Huron
and Bruce particularly know
what it is to have doctor
shortages," Steckle said. "We
need to find ways to bring in
more doctors to our rural
communities and that is
certainly one of my
priorities."
Steckle said he would also
make the disabled a priority
with plans to work with
Huron -Bruce MPP Carol
Mitchell and the provincial
government in order to find
solutions to assimilate the
disabled in our society.
Huron Federation of
Agriculture president Neil
Vincent, who arrived to
congratulate his long-time
friend, called Steckle's re-
election good news for the
farming community.
"When Paul says he's going
after something then you can
take him at his word that he's
going after it," Vincent said.
"I guess he can he dogged
determination when he sets
his mind to do something."
Steckle, first elected in
1993 when he defeated
incumbent Progressive
Conservative candidate
Murray Cardiff, made history
on Monday when he was re-
elected to a fourth term. He is
the first Huron -Bruce MP to
serve four terms (Cardiff
served three terms from 1980-
1993).
The federal election also
marked the eighth campaign
for Steckle — including his
time in municipal politics.
Nationally the Liberals
finished with 136 seats or
36.8 per cent of the popular
vote while the Conservative
Party finished with 97 seats or
29.6 per cent of the popular
vote. The Bloc Quebecois
was third with 54 seats (12.5
per cent of popular vote)
followed by the New
Democratic Party with 20
seats (15.6 per cent of popular
vote).
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are people that don't vote for
something." he said.
"Hopefully out of this
election though. we'll he able
to see something come out of
a minority government."
The Paisley -area farmer
said he congratulates all
Huron -Bruce candidates.
especially incumbent Huron -
Bruce MP Paul Steckle.
"I wish (Paul) well," he
said. "I hope he will tackle
the issues facing farmers in
Huron -Bruce and I will he
there to help him if needed.
"I am a little disappointed
with the election results but
1'.m positive about the
future," he said. "Increasing
the popular vote was my
main goal and we achieved it.
1 had lots of volunteers and
I'm thankful for their help
and to the party's supporters."
Robertson said he is not
overly disappointed by the
NDP's third place in local
poll results and guessed he
might run again.
THS HURON axPOSITOR, June 30, 2004.3
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