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Kelly Block. (file photo/northeastNOW Staff)
Block party

Block weighs in on re-election in Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek

Oct 23, 2019 | 12:01 PM

The MP for Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek will once again return to Ottawa.

Kelly Block was re-elected handily in Monday night’s federal election.

She received 34,814 votes, 78.7 per cent of the ballots cast in the riding, an improvement of over 8,000 votes and 14 per cent.

The riding encompasses local communities including Humboldt and Wakaw.

Block told northeastNOW she was humbled by the results.

“[I’m] pretty much overwhelmed with the support that I received in the riding of Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek,” Block said. “[I am] very thankful to the constituents for giving me the opportunity to represent them yet again in Ottawa.”

The entire province voted Conservative MPs in Monday’s vote, and Block said Saskatchewan was overwhelmingly supportive of both the party and its message.

There were 121 Conservatives elected across Canada on Monday, but that fell short of what was needed to form government as the Liberals earned a minority mandate.

“When I look at the results across the country it is not what we hoped for, but we made some gains, we won 26 more seats, and so I think that bodes well for us going into the future,” Block said.

The carbon tax has been a huge issue in Western Canada especially in this campaign, and Block said the Conservatives’ plan to scrap the tax was very well received in her riding.

“[The Conservatives] will be going back to Ottawa and encouraging the Liberal government to pay attention to what is happening in Western Canada, and also to make sure that measures are being introduced that continue to make life affordable for Canadians,” Block said. She added having one of the largest opposition MP numbers will help with that plan.

“In the last Parliament we were, I think, very effective in holding the government to account. I believe we will continue to be effective certainly with a larger number of members that will be able to bring to bear our concerns and the voice of Canadians — yes, from western Canada — but all across the country,” she said.

The MP credited hard work for her re-election through visiting most communities in the constituency and connecting with the residents.

She added her party’s positive vision for the province and the country also helped her gain traction.

The Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek riding was formed in 2015 from portions of the former Saskatoon-Humboldt, Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, and Saskatoon-Wanuskewin constituencies.

cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974